India Accounts for Nearly One-Fourth of the World's Total Milk Production

Dr. Verghese Kurian

India has consistently remained the world's leading milk producer. It contributes nearly one-fourth of global output. Over the last 11 years, India's dairy sector has expanded significantly by 70%. It contributes around 5% of the economy and provides direct employment to more than 8 crore farmers.

Due to a milk shortage during the 1950s to 1960s, the country was dependent on imports. The modern dairy movement in the country was built upon the success of the Anand Cooperative Model, which had flourished under the guidance of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel.

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The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) was created in 1965, and Dr. Verghese Kurian was appointed as its first Director. The mission for creating NDDB was to replicate the Anand Cooperative Model across the country and organize farmers into strong village-level milk producer societies.

The country celebrates 26th November as National Milk Day every year to mark the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, regarded as the father of the white revolution. Need not say that milk occupies a central place in the nutritional landscape of India.