White Revolution 2.0 Launched to Boost India’s Dairy Sector (GS Paper 2, Government Policies)
Context
- Union Minister Amit Shah has unveiled the “White Revolution 2.0,” an initiative aimed at further advancing India’s dairy sector.
- This program builds on the legacy of Operation Flood, initiated in 1970, which revolutionized the dairy industry through cooperative societies and established India as one of the world’s largest milk producers.
Key Objectives of White Revolution 2.0
- The primary objective of White Revolution 2.0 is to enhance milk collection nationwide by 50% over the next five years.
- The target is to increase daily milk procurement from the current 660 lakh kilograms to 1,007 lakh kilograms by 2028-29.
- This initiative also seeks to improve market access for dairy farmers by expanding the cooperative network.
- Cooperatives, the foundation of Operation Flood, will continue to play a central role in this initiative.
- Currently, around 1.7 lakh dairy cooperative societies operate across India, covering about 30% of villages and contributing to 10% of national milk production.
- However, coverage remains uneven, particularly in regions like Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh, which have less developed dairy cooperatives.
Expansion Plans
- To address these disparities, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) plans to establish 56,000 new cooperative societies and enhance 46,000 existing ones within the next five years.
- This expansion will focus on underrepresented states, aiming to strengthen the cooperative framework and improve local dairy production.
Funding Mechanisms
- White Revolution 2.0 will be supported by the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) 2.0, which will finance the establishment of milk collection centers, chilling facilities to ensure milk freshness, and training programs for dairy farmers.
Current Milk Production Scenario
- India is currently the largest milk producer globally, with a production of 230.58 million tonnes in 2022-23— a significant increase from just 17 million tonnes in 1951-52.
- Despite this achievement, milk yield per animal remains lower than the global average, highlighting room for improvement.
Economic Significance
- The dairy sector accounts for approximately 40% of India’s agricultural output, providing livelihoods for over 85 million people.
- About 63% of the milk produced is marketed, predominantly through the unorganized sector, while cooperatives control most of the organized market.
A Vision for the Future
- White Revolution 2.0 aims to capitalize on past successes to enhance milk production, create economic opportunities, and uplift rural communities, particularly women, through cooperative empowerment.
- This initiative is poised to play a crucial role in the ongoing development of India’s dairy industry, making it more inclusive and efficient for all stakeholders involved.
