Southern Dairy & Food Conclave Ends, Blending Technology with Tradition
The Southern Dairy & Food Conclave 2026 (SDFC-2026) — organised by the Indian Dairy Association’s South Zone under the banner of the Southern Dairy Summit — concluded in Calicut (now Verghese Kurien Nagar) with strong industry participation and a focus on fusing traditional dairy practices with modern technologies to shape future growth. The three-day conclave brought together policymakers, dairy leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs and farmers for discussions on innovation, productivity and inclusive development.
The event showcased the latest techno-commercial innovations, scientific sessions and farmer-interactive forums, alongside exhibits of diverse cattle breeds including Gir and other indigenous varieties, highlighting the importance of genetic resources in sustainable dairying. Participants also explored digital tools, processing technologies and best practices that can modernise supply chains while preserving traditional strengths.
A key highlight was the presentation of the Outstanding Dairy Professional Award 2025 to Nara Bhuvaneswari, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of Heritage Foods Ltd, in recognition of her leadership and contribution to farmer empowerment and sectoral growth. The award was presented by senior state agriculture and dairy ministers, underlining the conclave’s high-level engagement.
India — already the world’s largest milk producer with roughly 25 % of global output — is projected to expand its share further, with leaders in the dairy sector forecasting that the country could produce up to one-third of the world’s milk by 2033 as part of sustained growth under the White Revolution 2.0 and cooperative-led growth models. Government and industry voices, including officials associated with Amul and NDDB-aligned programmes, have articulated this ambition while pointing to rising production momentum and cooperative strength.
The projection aligns with NDDB’s Vision 2047 estimates, which foresee India’s milk output potentially reaching around 330 million tonnes by 2033, with domestic demand at approximately 292 million tonnes, implying not only strong internal consumption but also opportunities to expand exportable surpluses if market, policy and infrastructure conditions are optimised.
Officials emphasised the dairy sector’s crucial role in rural economies, women’s employment and nutritional security, calling for continued investment in scientific dairy management and collaborative public-private initiatives to elevate productivity and value addition. The conclave underscored that a balance between technology adoption and traditional practices can strengthen India’s dairy ecosystem — enhancing quality, traceability and market competitiveness while safeguarding farmer livelihoods.
Source : Dairynews7x7 Jan 12th 2026 The Hindu and others