India retains largest milk producer tag

India which retained its numero uno position in world milk production this year as well, is estimated to have produced 110 million tonnes of milk in 2008-09. Milk procurement of the world is estimated to be around 688 million tonnes in 2008, which was up by 1.7% compared to the previous year. With the success of Amul model of cooperative dairy in India, some of the developing and underdeveloped countries, too, are considering replicating the same. During 2008-09, milk procurement by the dairy co-operatives increased by 9.7% to 9.2 million tonnes in India. Dairy cooperatives procured about 14% of the national marketable surplus, covering around 21% of the country’s villages and 18% of the rural milkproducing households. India’s milk production was 104.8 million tonnes in 2007-08 and it is estimated to be 110 million tonnes in 2008-09. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) published recent statistics in its annual report for the fiscal 2008-09. In February 2009, NDDB deputed a team to Uganda and Tanzania under ‘South South Experience Exchange Programme’ at the request of the World Bank. The apex marketing body for Amul brand of dairy products, the Rs 6,711-crore Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd, too, is closely working with World Bank to replicate its successful model in the African countries. Despite the growth in milk procurement in the country, it was observed that producer (farmer) and consumer prices of milk increased by 5-6%. Ghee prices also increased significantly.