Indian Dairy @ 2047: Questions That Will Define the Future

The Indian Dairy Association (Rajasthan State Chapter) successfully organized the N. R. Bhasin Memorial Lecture & Awards Ceremony at Hotel Souvenir, Jaipur on April 26th 2026, bringing together leading academicians, dairy professionals, policymakers, and progressive farmers.

The event was graced by Dr. P. S. Chauhan as Chief Guest, Manish Faujdar as Guest of Honour, and presided over by Rahul Saxena , Chairman, IDA North zone. The keynote address on “Indian Dairy – Vision 2047” was delivered by Kuldeep Sharma, Chief Editor Dairynews7x7.com.

The event brought together key leaders from the dairy sector, including Sh Himmat Singh ji, Sh Govind Gupta and Dr Santosh Kumar Sharma Secretary IDA Rajasthan Chapter.

During the programme, Rahul Saxena reflected on the evolution and growth of the IDA Rajasthan Chapter, while also sharing his personal association with Dr. Bhasin, highlighting his role as a mentor and institution builder. Manish Faujdar spoke about the strong stance taken by Jaipur Dairy against spurious milk supplies and duplicate “Saras” brands, reiterating a policy of zero tolerance towards adulteration and emphasizing the importance of food safety in maintaining consumer trust.

In his address as Chief Guest, Dr. P. S. Chauhan stressed the need to scale up bio-gas initiatives within the dairy ecosystem and highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. He encouraged students to actively leverage AI, noting that predictive capabilities in veterinary science could enable early understanding of long-term health impacts in cattle, thereby reshaping future dairy management practices.

Paying tribute to Dr. N. R. Bhasin, former IDA President and founder of the Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation, the lecture highlighted his pioneering role in strengthening cooperative dairying in Rajasthan, inspired by the legacy of Operation Flood.

Ten Questions

The keynote was uniquely structured around ten critical questions shaping the future of Indian dairying. It questioned whether India, despite being the world’s largest milk producer, is truly a dairy superpower or still a fragmented system. It raised concerns on why farmer incomes remain under pressure despite rising production, and whether institutional evolution has kept pace with sectoral growth since Independence.

The lecture emphasized that the sector now faces a “trust challenge,” with food safety concerns and misinformation influencing consumer perception. It questioned whether regulation alone can address emerging challenges like dairy analogues and social media narratives. It also reviewed past dairy entrepreneurship initiatives, asking whether they have ensured sustainable livelihoods or merely facilitated entry.

Looking ahead, the speaker highlighted that future profitability may lie beyond milk—in areas such as bio-energy, fodder systems, whey utilization, and data-driven services. The need to balance innovation with affordable nutrition was stressed, alongside concerns over disruptions from plant-based alternatives and changing consumer behavior.

Projecting towards 2047, the lecture envisioned India reaching ~500 MMT milk production, achieving disease-free status, increasing export share to 8–10%, expanding the organized sector to 40%, and balancing liquid and value-added dairy products.

The central message was clear: India must transition from a “milk economy” to a “value-driven dairy ecosystem” that ensures farmer prosperity, consumer trust, and global competitiveness.

The event served as a fitting tribute to Dr. Bhasin’s legacy, reinforcing the need to align future growth with the foundational principle of farmer-centric development.

The programme concluded with the felicitation of outstanding B.Tech (Dairying) and Veterinary Science students for their exemplary academic achievements, alongside recognition of Deans, scientists, and professors for their distinguished contributions to research, innovation, and academic excellence, reinforcing the sector’s commitment to nurturing talent and advancing knowledge.

Source : Dairynews7x7 April 26th 2026 Event coverage at Jaipur