No impact of LSD on world’s biggest milk producer.
India’s milk production is estimated to increase by 4.2% on year to a record 230.58 million tonne (MT) in 2022-23, allaying fears about the possibility of stagnation in output because of lumpy skin diseases (LSDs) in cattle reported last year.
This the slowest rate of growth in the milk production reported in the last five year. In 2018-19, the milk output was 187.7 MT, an increase of 6.47% compared to previous year.
According to basic animal husbandry statistics, 2023 released on Sunday, Uttar Pradesh, has a highest share of 15.72% in the country’s milk production in 2022-23.
Other states which have a major share in milk output include Rajasthan (14.44%), Madhya Pradesh (8.73%), Gujarat (7.49%) and Andhra Pradesh (6.7%).
According to animal husbandry minister Parshottam Rupala, milk production grew highest in Karnataka (8.76%), West Bengal (8.65%) and Uttar Pradesh (6.99%) in 2022-23 compared to previous year.
The country’s milk production was reported at 221 MT in 2021-22.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, India was the highest milk producer in the world which contributed 24% of global milk output in 2021-22.
Despite India being the largest milk producer since 1998, the commodity has been the second biggest factor after cereals such as rice and wheat in driving up retail inflation in the last couple of years.
In April, the government had expressed apprehension that the country’s milk production in 2022-23 could remain stagnant or may witness a marginal increase compared to previous year due to lumpy skin diseases and impact of covid19.
However officials said that retail milk prices are unlikely to witness any spike in prices till middle of next year because of improvement in supplies since April and setting in of ‘flush’ season and adequate monsoon rains in key producing areas.
A combination of high cost of feed and raw material, and supply challenges, LSD and rising dairy exports has impacted milk production and costs, leading organised players, including Mother Dairy and Amul, to hike milk prices multiple times in the last year.
Retail milk inflation last month was 6.38%, marginally lower from the previous month.
The production of milk, egg, meat and wool is estimated annually based on the results of integrated sample survey which is conducted thrice annually – summer (March-June), rainy (July-October) and winter (November-February).
Meanwhile, egg production rose to 103.8 billion in 2022-23, an increase of 6.77% compared to previous year. Key egg producing states include – Andhra Pradesh (20.13%), Tamil Nadu (15.58%), Telangana (12.77%), West Bengal (9.94%) and Karnataka (6.51%).
The country’s meat production increased to 9.77 MT in 2022-23, an increase of 5.13% on year. However, wool production grew marginally by 2.12% to 33.61 million kg in 2022-23 on year.
Source:financialexpress.com