Cows, milk and India
Our country is projected to become world's biggest cow milk producer by 2026
(Note: According to OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2017-2026 report India's cow milk production will see a jump of 60 million tonnes in the next decade, with cows to increase by 105 million. Consumption along with nutrition will see a rise, and we might leave the US and European Union behind as well. Great news (projections) indeed. But what will happen to the cows expected to go up by 105 million in the next ten years? Also the projection does not indicate on the probable composition of cows and bulls and proportionate recruitment of Cow Vigilantes. Isaac Gomes, Associate Editor, CCV).
IndiaToday.in
Edited by Mohak Gupta – New Delhi, July 29, 2017 | UPDATED 13:33 IST
A report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation (OECD) has revealed that India is projected to become the world's biggest milk producer in the coming 10 years.
India has tripled its output during the first quarter of this century.
COWS, MILK AND INDIA
India's milk output which was 160.38 million tonnes in 2016, is expected to reach 227.78 million tonnes by 2026, according to the OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2017-2026 report released this week.
In the next 10 years, there will be a projected jump of 60 million tonnes. During the same decade, even the number of cows is expected to go up by 105 million.
The number of cows is projected to increase from 122.5 million to 227.78 million during the decade, the report said.
INDIA VS THEM – US AND EU
It is said India's milk output in 2026 would be one-third higher than that of the second largest producer, the European Union (EU).
"This remarkable growth is achieved with yields below two tonnes per head, far below EU or US levels," the report noted.
CONSUMPTION AND NUTRITION
Nutritionally, Indians are projected to make a breakthrough during the 10 years to 2026, according to the report.
The annual consumption of fresh dairy products which was around 80.74 kg per person in 2016, is expected to shoot up to 106.94 kg by 2026.
Overall, the total calories available per person per day are projected to increase to 2,730 kilocalories (kcal) by 2026, up from the 2,442 kcal last year.
WHEAT AND RICE PRODUCTION
Wheat production, which was 92.29 million tonnes last year, would rise to 106.83 million tonnes in 2026, seeing a jump of 14 million tonnes.
The area under cultivation would go up from 29 million hectares which is the statistic of last year, to 31.9 million hectares in 2026.
Rice production is projected to increase from 108.86 million tonnes last year to 2016 million tonnes by 2026.
During the period, area under rice was expected to increase marginally from 44.65 million hectares to 44.81 million hectares, it added.
