India continues to be the largest milk producing nation in the world in 2010-11, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) said here on Tuesday.
NDDB's Annual Report for 2010-11 said the country's estimated milk production for 2010-11 is 121 million tonnes (mt), close to 17 per cent of world milk production.
During the year, dairy cooperatives collected 9.6 mt, a growth of around one per cent over last year. Liquid milk marketing by cooperatives increased by around 4 per cent over the previous year and was about 8.2 mt in 2010-11, according to an NDDB statement.
Higher GDP growth, increased incomes in rural areas through schemes such as MGNREGA and growing population are contributing to a rapidly growing demand for milk, said Dr Amrita Patel, Chairman, NDDB. It is, therefore, imperative that a scientifically planned multi-State initiative is launched.
The first phase of NDDB's 15-year plan, known as National Dairy Plan (NDP), has been appraised by the World Bank and approval for the project is expected in early 2012, she added.