From Desert to Dairy Giant: Rajasthan's Milk Production Soars

Rajasthan, a state traditionally known for its arid landscapes, has dramatically transformed into India's largest milk producer, surpassing Uttar Pradesh. This significant shift occurred since the pandemic, with Rajasthan now accounting for 16% of the country’s total milk output. This transformation is set to benefit Rajasthan significantly, especially in light of India's protectionist stance in ongoing trade negotiations with the United States regarding the crucial dairy sector.

Between 2020–21 and 2023–24, Rajasthan's real gross value of milk output averaged Rs 91,226.9 crore, outperforming Uttar Pradesh's Rs 87,447.6 crore, as per a recent Ministry of Statistics report. Before the pandemic, Rajasthan was second, contributing 12.8% to India's milk, while Uttar Pradesh led with 16.6%. This emphasizes the rapid growth within Rajasthan’s dairy economics.

Simultaneously, other states like Madhya Pradesh have shown notable growth, overtaking Gujarat as the fourth-largest milk-producing state by contributing 7.5% in 2022–23 to the country’s milk output.

The expansion of the dairy sector holds particular importance as in 2023–24, the value of milk production reached Rs 6.1 lakh crore, making up 20.5% of India’s total agricultural output. This reliance is even more pronounced in Rajasthan, where milk contributes a third of the state's agricultural output. Meanwhile, India's dairy sector is a critical point of contention in trade talks with the U.S., with India striving to protect its domestic dairy farmers and secure national food security.