Punjab’s Milk Production Sees a 4.8% Rise Over Four Years

Punjab's dairy sector has experienced significant growth with a 4.8% rise in milk production over the past four years, noted Sanjeev Arora, MP, in Parliament. The output increased from 132.72 lakh tonnes during the 2019-20 period to 139.11 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, according to Union Minister Prof. S P Singh Baghel's report in the Rajya Sabha session. 

The surge is attributed to various efforts by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying to ameliorate the genetic quality of bovine breeds native to Punjab. Noteworthy programs include progeny testing for Sahiwal cattle and Murrah buffalo, pedigree selection for Nili Ravi buffaloes, and the employment of bovine IVF technology geared towards faster propagation of elite animals.

The Indian government has allocated resources to set up IVF laboratories in Ludhiana and Patiala and is expanding AI coverage using sex-sorted semen. Furthermore, initiatives to establish a common genomic chip aim at selecting and enhancing elite native breeds.

The financial model of dairies offers a promising return for farmers, with approximately 70-80% of the consumer rupee going back to milk-producing farmers. This is a significant boost in the cooperative dairy sector, according to Minister Baghel's disclosure. Efforts continue with schemes designed to amplify milk productivity and reduce production costs, enhancing the economic welfare of dairy farmers in Punjab.