REVIEWS
213
That the supply of milk is far too low for the demand, is reflected in the average
daily per capita consumption of milk (including milk products calculated in terms
of the fluid) of 5.45 oz. which is barely 1/8th to 1/10th of the quantity consumed in
some of the progressive dairy countries of the world. The Indian average includes
in one extreme no consumption, while in the other, as high as about 17 oz. This
wide variability has been shown to be due to the availability of milk from tract to
tract and the economic status of the individual consumer. The consumption of
milk in India, as in all countries, is both in the fluid form as well as in the form of
milk products. From nutritional standpoint, fluid consumption is obviously the
most desirable way of using milk. In India, the fluid consumption to-day has been
shown to be 36.2 per cent of the total production, which is an improvement on 28
per cent recorded in 1941. The utilization of major quantity of milk as products
is mainly decided by the scattered production of milk in rural areas where facilities
are lacking in the marketing of liquid milk. It is, therefore, but natural that the
maximum volume of milk, 43.3 per cent of the total production, is disposed off
as ghee which is least perishable amongst the Indian Dairy products, though least
economical for the producer. Unlike in the previous report, the data given in the
tabular statement entitled 'Utilization of milk in the Indian Union' (P. 53), no
figure has been shown of milk converted into products other than those listed. This
is rather an unfortunate omission, as it is well known that a measurable quantity
of milk is converted into indigenous products, such as channa, rabri, malai, khur-
chand, etc. There are two important byproducts, namely buttermilk and skim
milk, obtainable from the dairy industry of the country. Approximately 2970
lakh maunds of buttermilk are annually produced, most of which is consumed by
the producers, but a significant quantity is run to waste or not used to the maximum
advantage. A large proportion of about 54 lakh maunds of skim milk, is converted
into Industrial Casein.
Since the fluid disposal of rural milk is largely undeveloped, and exigencies
demand its conversion into relatively cheap but less perishable products, the economic
return from the greater part of the total milk production is low. On the other hand
the economic return is the highest for the quantity which enters the fluid market.
Apart from the basic consideration of supply and demand, a number of factors
have been found to influence the local price of fluid milk. In general, the demand
being heavier than the supply, a number of malpractices are prevalent which
encourage the adulteration of milk, and in the long run depress its price. Such
tendencies have naturally stifled the incentive in the trade. With regard to the
price of milk, the report has brought out a point of considerable interest. Before
the advent of World War II the Indian price was the lowest compared to that in
other dairy countries of the world. But, during recent years it has registered a
phenomenal rise, so much so that the current price is almost two-fold of that in other
countries. Another interesting point to note in this connection is that the consumer's
price of milk is shared by the producer along with two other intermedies, namely
the collector and the retailer, and his share of the price, on an average works out
to be little over 60 per cent.
The major portion of 900 lakh maunds (or 18.7 per cent of the entire production)
of fluid milk which enters the market is for meeting the urban demand. About
60 to 70 per cent of the urban requirement is being produced within the municipa