India’s dairy sector sustains strong growth momentum
India’s dairy sector continues to evolve as one of the most dynamic components of the global food economy, according to a recent assessment by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), UK. Despite facing challenges like climate variability and rising production costs, India remains the world’s largest milk producer and consumer, accounting for nearly a quarter of global output. The AHDB report notes that the sector’s resilience lies in its unique integration of smallholder farmers, cooperative systems, and rapidly modernising private dairies.
The report highlights that rising rural incomes, urbanisation, and dietary diversification are fuelling continuous growth in milk demand across India. For a largely vegetarian population, dairy products remain a principal source of protein, fat and calories. This sustained consumption pattern has provided a steady base for both organised and unorganised players to expand their operations. Products such as curd, paneer, ghee and flavoured milk have seen double-digit annual growth in many regions, with increasing consumer preference for branded and fortified products.
On the supply side, India’s dairy ecosystem has witnessed greater investment in chilling infrastructure, automation, and testing laboratories, reflecting a shift from volume growth to value addition and quality assurance. Cooperatives and private processors are exploring new business models such as contract farming, digital milk collection systems, and traceability platforms to strengthen farmer linkages. However, the report cautions that feed availability, climate impacts, and cold-chain inefficiencies still pose bottlenecks to productivity and export competitiveness.
Global analysts observe that India’s dairy trajectory offers lessons for other developing economies — demonstrating how a vast smallholder-based system can transition into a modern, technology-driven value chain without losing its community base. In addition, innovation in processed dairy, functional foods, and nutraceuticals is opening new market opportunities domestically and internationally.
For processors, cooperatives and laboratories, the AHDB analysis serves as a timely reminder: India’s next growth phase will depend on sustained focus on quality, testing integrity, and product innovation. Building capacity for microbial and chemical safety, developing low-fat and high-protein dairy products, and enhancing farmer-training programmes in hygiene and handling will be crucial to meeting global standards. As the country moves towards its “White Revolution 2.0,” India’s dairy sector stands poised to reinforce its position not only as a global leader in milk production but also as a hub for safe, sustainable and value-added dairy innovation.
Source : Dairynews7x7 Nov 12th Farmers Guardian by Alex Black
