Due to expensive milk, the price of dairy products increased, the government is considering imports to provide relief

High Milk Prices: Due to the rise in milk prices, the government is considering the import of dairy products to curb the inflation of dairy products, which are continuously becoming expensive. Due to the decrease in milk production in India during the last financial year, problems have arisen in the supply of dairy products, due to which their prices have also increased. Last year, the supply of butter was interrupted at many places including the capital Delhi. The government also admitted that the price of milk has increased due to the increase in the prices of fodder. He said that there is a problem in the supply of fodder as the area under fodder crops has also remained stagnant in the last four years, while the dairy sector is growing at six per cent annually.

Animal Husbandry and Dairying Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh has faced stagnation in the country’s milk production in the financial year 2022-23 due to lumpy skin disease in cattle. While domestic demand has increased by 8-10 percent in the same period due to the boom in demand after the pandemic. He said, ‘There is no hindrance in the supply of milk in the country. There is sufficient stock of Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP). But in case of dairy products, especially fat, butter and ghee etc., the stock is less as compared to last year. He said that after assessing the stock position of milk in the southern states, if necessary, the government would consider importing dairy products like butter and ghee. The peak time of production has now begun in the southern states.

However, he said that at this time international prices have increased, in such a situation, imports will not be beneficial at the present time. If global prices are high, there is no point in importing, he said. The government will take a decision after we assess the production in the rest of the country. He said that due to unseasonal rains in the last 20 days, the situation has become favorable with the drop in temperature, so this deficiency will be less in North India. The Animal Husbandry and Dairying Secretary said that the country’s milk production has remained stable due to the death of 1.89 lakh cattle last year due to the effects of lumpy skin disease and a post-pandemic surge in the demand for milk.

According to government data, milk production in the country stood at 221 million tonnes in the year 2021-22, which was 6.25 per cent higher than the previous year’s 208 million tonnes. However, in 2022-23 it will decrease or may remain stable. India last imported dairy products in the year 2011.

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