Lok Sabha Question No. 5206 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Dairy Sector in Maharashtra
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 5206 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH 2026

## DAIRY SECTOR IN MAHARASHTRA

5206. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:

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

- (a) the current status of the dairy sector in the State of Maharashtra, including total milk production, processing capacity and per-capita availability during the last five years;
- (b) the major challenges faced by dairy farmers in Maharashtra, including issues related to input costs, animal health, market linkages, fair prices and access to quality feed and veterinary services;
- (c) the details of Government programmes and schemes implemented to support the dairy sector in Maharashtra, such as cooperative development, dairy processing infrastructure, cold chain support and credit facilitation;
- (d) whether the Government has undertaken any initiatives to boost value addition, branding and exports of dairy products from Maharashtra and if so, the outcomes thereof; and
- (e) the steps being taken by the Government to improve livelihood opportunities, income security  and  technological  upgradation  for  small  and  marginal  dairy  producers  in  the State?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Maharashtra's milk production in 202425 is estimated at 166.26 lakh tonnes, accounting for about 6.7% of the country's total milk output. The per capita availability of milk in the State is estimated at 358 grams per day. About 8.7 lakh milk producers are members of the dairy cooperative network, of which nearly 27% are women. There are 13,272 functional Dairy  Cooperative  Societies  (DCSs)  in  the  State,  collectively  procuring  43.41  lakh kilograms  of  milk  per  day.  The  details  of  milk  production,  processing  capacity  in cooperative dairies and per-capita availability of milk  in Maharashtra during the 5 years are as under:
- (b)  and  (c),  In  order  to  eliminate  these  challenges,  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

| (b) Year   |   Milk Production (Lakh Tonnes) |   Per Capita Availability of Milk (gram(s)/ day) |   Processing Capacity in cooperative dairies (in LLPD) |
|------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| 2020-21    |                          137.03 |                                              305 |                                                 127.8  |
| 2021-22    |                          143.05 |                                              315 |                                                 135.3  |
| 2022-23    |                          150.42 |                                              329 |                                                 134.3  |
| 2023-24    |                          160.45 |                                              347 |                                                 141.65 |
| 2024-25    |                          166.26 |                                              358 |                                                 145.05 |

LLPD: Lakh Liter Per Day

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  (SHG s)/  Milk Producer Companies/ Farmer Producer Organizations.
4. (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 medicines across the country through Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PM-KSK) and Cooperative Societies. This will create an ecosystem for Generic Medicines which will be affordable and of good quality.

These schemes are helping in improving milk productivity of bovines, expanding network of dairy cooperatives, strengthening  of  dairy infrastructure,  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.

- (d) To  promote  value  addition,  branding,  and  exports  across  the  country,  including Maharashtra,  the  DAHD,  GOI  has  extended  assistance  under  the  NPDD  and  AHIDF  for modernization of processing facilities, cold chain, and quality assurance infrastructure. These measures  have  enabled  compliance  with  international  standards  and  strengthened  India's position in global markets. As a result, India's dairy exports have increased from Rs 1,675 crore in 2020 -21 to Rs 4,362 crore in 2024 -25 (source: DGFT), with Maharashtra 's dairy sector also contributing to this growth

(e) The schemes implemented by DAHD, GOI mentioned in reply to question (b) and (c) above, help to improve livelihood opportunities, income security, and technological upgradation for small and marginal dairy producers across the   country including Maharashtra

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