India might think about importing dairy merchandise as a result of provide constraints brought on by stagnant milk manufacturing within the final fiscal yr. Throughout a press convention, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Secretary Rajesh Kumar acknowledged that the federal government will intervene and import dairy merchandise, equivalent to butter and ghee, if obligatory after assessing the inventory place of milk in southern states, the place the flushing season has simply begun. Milk manufacturing in India was 221 million tonnes within the monetary yr 2021-22. This was an increase of 6.25% from the 208 million tonnes produced within the earlier yr.
Singh famous that milk manufacturing in India remained stagnant within the 2022-23 fiscal yr as a result of lumpy pores and skin illness in cattle, reported information company PTI. Regardless of this, home demand grew by 8-10% throughout the identical interval as a result of a post-pandemic demand rebound. Singh mentioned there isn’t any constraint in milk provide in India. An satisfactory stock of skimmed milk powder (SMP) is being maintained, he mentioned. Nevertheless, within the case of dairy merchandise, significantly fat, butter, and ghee, the shares are decrease than the earlier yr.
In accordance with Singh, nevertheless, importing dairy merchandise might not profit the nation proper now as worldwide costs are on a excessive. If world costs stay excessive, the federal government will assess the flush season in the remainder of the nation earlier than making a choice.
Singh additional mentioned that the scarcity will likely be much less within the northern a part of the nation because the lean season is prone to arrive late as a result of temperature falling after premature rains within the final 20 days. Lumpy pores and skin illness, which killed 1.89 lakh cattle final yr, and the post-pandemic rebound in milk demand have had a big influence on India’s milk output, in keeping with the secretary.
Singh famous that as a result of influence of lumpy pores and skin illness, the entire milk manufacturing remained stagnant. Sometimes, milk manufacturing in India grows by 6% yearly. Nevertheless, this yr, it is going to both be stagnant or develop at 1-2%. Because the authorities considers solely the milk manufacturing knowledge of the cooperative sector, Singh assumed that it might stay stagnant.
Fodder costs have risen, main to exploit inflation, in keeping with Singh. The dairy sector has been rising yearly at 6%, whereas the fodder crop space has remained stagnant within the final 4 years. India final imported dairy merchandise in 2011.
(With PTI inputs.)