India keeps its crown as the world’s biggest milk producer, pumping out nearly a quarter of the global supply. This dairy powerhouse adds 5% to the country’s economy and puts jobs in the hands of more than 80 million farmers, according to a government statement released Monday.
The industry reaches over 80 million rural homes, with many run by small-scale farmers scraping by on modest plots. Women lead the charge here, handling much of the milking and collection work, which helps fuel real inclusive growth across communities.
In the last 10 years, India’s dairy sector has exploded with growth. Milk output jumped 63.56% to 239.3 million tonnes in 2023-24, up from 146.3 million tonnes back in 2014-15. That’s an steady annual increase of 5.7%, and data from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization backs it up—India stays way ahead of rivals like the United States, Pakistan, China, and Brazil in global milk production.
Everyday milk access for Indians has soared too, with per capita availability climbing 48% to over 471 grams per person daily in 2023-24. That’s well above the worldwide average of about 322 grams.
At the heart of it all are India’s 303.76 million bovines—think cattle, buffaloes, mithun, and yaks—that power both dairy farming and farm labor. Sheep, at 74.26 million strong, and goats, numbering 148.88 million, step up big time too, especially in dry and semi-arid spots where they provide key milk sources.
Productivity tells an even better story: Between 2014 and 2022, India’s bovine milk yield per animal grew 27.39%, the top rate globally and beating out leaders like China, Germany, and Denmark. That’s double the world’s average gain of 13.97%.
India’s cooperative dairy network stands out for its reach and organization. By 2025, it includes 22 state-level milk federations, 241 district unions, 28 marketing units, and 25 milk producer organizations. They serve around 235,000 villages and count 17.2 million dairy farmers as members.
Women shine brightest in this setup. They make up about 70% of the dairy workforce and 35% of cooperative members. More than 48,000 village-level societies are even led by women, driving empowerment and economic boosts in rural areas.
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