Lok Sabha Question No. 503 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Dairy Development in Maharashtra
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 503

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  FEBRUARY 2026

## DAIRY DEVELOPMENT IN MAHARASHTRA

## 503. PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING मत्स्यपालन , पशुपालन और डेयरी मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  specific  measures  to  promote  sustainable  dairy development  and  support  to  small  and  marginal  dairy  farmers  through  cattle  breed improvement and availability of quality feed and fodder in Maharashtra;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  the  schemes  and  financial  assistance  provided  to  Maharashtra  for establishment and upgradation of milk processing units, chilling centres, quality testing laboratories and value-added dairy infrastructure during the last three years;
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  enhance  milk  productivity  and  quality  through capacity  building  of  dairy  cooperatives  and  Farmer  Producer  Organisations,  animal health insurance and extension services in the State;
- (d) whether the Government has any comprehensive policy framework to strengthen market linkages,  ensure  fair  and  remunerative  pricing  and  promote  exports  of  dairy  products from Maharashtra, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the outcome achieved by the Government for milk production, farmers' income  and employment  generation, along with the monitoring and evaluation mechanism adopted to ensure effective implementation?

## Answer

## THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING (RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a) to (d) Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India (GoI) is  implementing  the  following  schemes  to  supplement  the  efforts  made  by  the  State Government to promote sustainable dairy development and support to small and marginal dairy farmers across the country including Maharashtra:

1. Rashtriya  Gokul  Mission  (RGM): RGM  is  implemented  for  development  and conservation  of  indigenous  breeds,  genetic  upgradation  of  bovine  population  and enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines.
2. National  Programme  for  Dairy  Development  (NPDD): NPDD  is  implemented with following 2 components:
3. (i) Component ''A'' of NPDD focuses on creating/strengthening of infrastructure for quality milk testing equipment as well as primary chilling facilities for State

Cooperative  Dairy  Federations/  District  Cooperative  Milk  Producers'  Union/ Self  Help  Groups  (SHGs)/  Milk  Producer  Companies/  Farmer  Producer Organizations.

- (ii) Component ''B'' of the NPDD scheme "Dairying through Cooperatives' aims to  increase  sale  of  milk  and  dairy  products  by  increasing  farmer's  access  to organized market, upgrading dairy processing facilities and marketing infrastructure and enhancing the capacity of producer owned institutions.
3. Supporting Dairy Cooperatives & Farmer Producer Organisations engaged in dairy activities (SDCFPO): To assist the State Dairy Cooperative Federations by providing interest subvention (regular 2% and additional 2% on prompt repayment) with respect to soft working capital loan to tide over the crisis on account severely adverse market conditions or natural calamities.
4. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure  Development  Fund  (AHIDF) :  AHIDF provides interest subvention at the rate 3% per annum for creation/ strengthening of livestock  product  processing  and  diversification  infrastructure  thereby  providing greater access for unorganized producer members to organized market.
5. National  Livestock  Mission  (NLM): to  bring  sharp  focus  on  entrepreneurship development and breed improvement in poultry, sheep, goat, piggery and fodder by providing the incentivization to the individual, FPOs, SHGs, Section 8 companies for entrepreneurship development and also to the State Government for breed improvement infrastructure
6. Livestock  Health  and  Disease  Control  Programme  (LHDCP): to  provide  for prophylactic  vaccination  against  animal  diseases,  capacity  building  of  veterinary services,  disease  surveillance,  and  strengthening  veterinary  infrastructure.  Also,  a new component of Pashu Aushadhi is added under the scheme ensure availability of affordable generic veterinary medicine across the country through Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PM-KSK) and Cooperative Societies. This will create an ecosystem for Generic Medicine which will be affordable and of good quality.

These schemes are helping in improving milk productivity of bovines, expanding network of dairy cooperatives, strengthen dairy infrastructure for export-quality products, working capital requirement, enhancing availability of feed and fodder and providing animal health services. These interventions help to reduce the cost of milk production and also help to enhance income of milk producer from dairy farming.

The financial assistance provided to Maharashtra for establishment and upgradation of milk processing units, chilling centres, quality testing laboratories and value-added dairy infrastructure during the last three years under NPDD and AHIDF is at Annexure-I.

DAHD, GoI, has made awareness generation an integral part of its schemes such as Rashtriya Gokul  Mission,  Livestock  Health  and  Disease  Control  Programme,  National  Livestock Mission,  and  National  Programme  for  Dairy  Development.  Through  these  schemes,  the Government  provides  training  and  capacity  building  for  dairy  cooperatives  and  Farmer Producer Organisations, promotes clean milk production, modern dairy management, balanced feed and fodder practices, and conducts awareness programmes on animal health, insurance, and disease prevention. Extension services, health camps, and mobile veterinary units further support farmers, aiming to improve milk productivity, quality, and income opportunities in the dairy sector.

(e) The implementation of schemes by the DAHD, GoI, has led to significant outcomes in the dairy sector. Milk production has increased by 69% over the past decade, rising from 146.31 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 248 million tonnes in 2024-25, while per capita availability has grown by 52%, from 319 grams to 485 grams per person per day. Artificial Insemination (AI) coverage has expanded from 20% to 40%, and milk processing capacity has more than doubled, from 556 LLPD to 1175 LLPD (112% increase). Dairy cooperatives now cover about 2,00,000 villages, engaging nearly 1.72 crore dairy farmers, thereby contributing to enhanced farmer incomes  and  employment  generation.  Monitoring  and  evaluation  of  these  schemes  are undertaken through structured mechanisms involving regular reporting from State, review at State and Central level through regional review meetings, and assessment to ensure effective implementation and measurable impact.

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Annexure-I The details of financial assistance provided to Maharashtra during last 3 years under National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) and Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)

## NPDD scheme:

| Financial Year   | (Rs. in lakh)   | (Rs. in lakh)   | (Rs. in lakh)   |
|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
| Financial Year   | Funds Released  | Funds Utilized  | Unspent Balance |
| 2022-23          | 657.44          | 657.44          | 0.00            |
| 2023-24          | 692.15          | 44.89           | 647.26          |
| 2024-25          | 0.00            | 0.00            | 0.00            |

## AHIDF:

| Financial Year   |   Projects |   Project Cost (in cr.) |   Term Loan (in cr.) |   IS Released (in cr.) |
|------------------|------------|-------------------------|----------------------|------------------------|
| 2022-23          |          8 |                  288.5  |               197.66 |                  10.46 |
| 2023-24          |          4 |                   48.46 |                39.1  |                   1.96 |
| 2024-25          |          8 |                  468.65 |               355.18 |                  11.11 |

DIDF: DIDF merged in AHIDF since February 2024

| Financial Year   | Projects               | Project Cost (in cr.)   | Term Loan (in cr.)   |   Loan disbursed |
|------------------|------------------------|-------------------------|----------------------|------------------|
| 2022-23          | Panchmahal District    |                         |                      |            22.62 |
| 2023-24          | Cooperative Milk (Navi | 169.25                  | 135.40               |            71.95 |
| 2024-25          | Mumbai)                |                         |                      |            21.53 |