Lok Sabha Question No. 1213 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Minimum Support Price for Milk
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Dr. Gumma Thanuja Rani, Shri P V Midhun Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1213

TO BE ANSWERED ON 30 TH JULY, 2024

## MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE FOR MILK

## 1213 DR. GUMMA THANUJA RANI: SHRI P V MIDHUN REDDY:

## Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  considered  introducing  a  Minimum  Support  Price for  the  milk  in  the  country,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the Government is aware of the low penetration of insurance amongst the livestock population in the country, if so, the steps taken by the Government to improve this;
- (c) the ratio of veterinary clinics to the total livestock population in the country; and
- (d) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  this  ratio  and  make  access  to medical care for livestock better?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## (SHRIRAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

- (a) The  Department  of  Animal  Husbandry  &  Dairying  (DAHD),  Government  of India  does  not  regulate  the  procurement  and  sale  prices  of  milk  in  the  country. Prices  are  decided  by  the  cooperative  and  private  dairies  based  on  their  cost  of production and market forces. Milk pricing being free from Government control, this department does not have any proposal to fix Minimum Support Price (MSP) for milk in the country.
- (b) DAHD  took  following  steps  to  popularize  and  increase  the  acceptance  of insurance scheme among the farmers across the country:
- i. Beneficiary  contribution  has  been  reduced  to  15%  from  20  to  40% irrespective  of  category  like  APL,  SC,  ST,  BPL  and  type  of  area.  Rest

amount will be contributed as Central and State share as 60:40 or 90:10 (For Himalayan/NER states) of the premium amount.

- ii. Enhancing insurance coverage to 10 cattle units (from existing 5 cattle units) per household for all animals except for pig and rabbit which will be 5 cattle unit per household. One cattle unit is equal to one large animal and 10 small animals.
- iii. Inclusion of RFID tagging also in insured animals for better identification and developing single Web APP Workflow Portal for Livestock Insurance portal for the country to enhance transparency and improved  claim settlement ratio through better monitoring on real time basis.
3. (c) As  per  Basic  Animal  Husbandry  Statistics  (BAHS)  2023  and  20 th Livestock Census  2019,  a  total  of  about  536.71  million  of  livestock  population  in  the country  are  being  catered  by  69202  Veterinary  Institutions  (includes  Veterinary Hospitals/Polyclinics, Veterinary Dispensaries, Veterinary Aid Centres). Based on the above data, the ratio of veterinary clinics to the total livestock population in the country works out to be 1:7756
4. (d) Animal Husbandry is a State subject, therefore establishment and improvement of veterinary  hospitals,  dispensaries  and  recruitment  of  necessary  staff  in  the veterinary  institutions  for  providing  veterinary  services  is  under  the  purview  of the State Government. However, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the component of Establishment & Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals & Dispensaries-Mobile Veterinary Units (ESVHD-MVU) provides financial assistance to States/UTs for delivery of veterinary healthcare services at farmers' doorsteps  to  strengthen  veterinary  health  services  @  1  MVU/1  Lakh  livestock population.  MVUs  provide  diagnosis,  treatment,  vaccination,  minor  surgical interventions, audio-visual aids and extension services to farmers / animal owners at  their  doorstep in  far flung  area. The Central Government has provided 100% financial assistance to the States/ UTs towards procurement and customization of MVUs  under  Establishment and Strengthening of Veterinary Hospital  & Dispensaries-Mobile  Veterinary  Units  (ESVHD-MVUs)  to  further  strengthen veterinary health services.

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