India’s dairy sector is undergoing a significant transformation, with improvements in milk productivity, scientific breeding and animal healthcare contributing to higher output and stronger rural income opportunities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has highlighted that the average milk yield of cows and buffaloes has increased to around eight litres per animal, compared with less than five litres in 2013-14.
The improvement reflects the growing emphasis on enhancing the productivity of existing livestock rather than relying solely on expanding herd sizes. Dairy farming remains an important source of regular income for millions of rural households, particularly women, making improvements in animal productivity and healthcare essential for the sector’s long-term development.
Several initiatives involving breed improvement, vaccination, veterinary services and modern dairy infrastructure are supporting this transition.
New Breeding Centre to Strengthen Indigenous Cattle Genetics
A major development is the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre at Bhildi in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district. Inaugurated by the Prime Minister, the facility spans 127 acres and is described as the country’s first dedicated centre for the Kankrej cattle breed.
The centre will focus on genetic improvement and advanced reproductive technologies, including in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryo transfer. It will also support indigenous cattle breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, Kankrej and Tharparkar, along with buffalo breeds including Mehsana, Murrah, Banni and Jaffarabadi.
With a target of producing approximately 25,000 high-quality embryos annually, the facility is expected to improve access to superior genetics and help farmers develop more productive dairy animals.
The importance of these initiatives becomes clearer when viewed against India’s livestock population. According to the 20th Livestock Census, the cattle population increased from 190.90 million in 2012 to 192.52 million in 2019. Buffalo numbers rose from 108.7 million to 109.9 million during the same period.
The total bovine population reached 303.76 million, registering growth of 1.3 per cent over seven years. These figures underline why improving the productivity of existing animals is becoming increasingly important for India’s dairy development strategy.
State-Level Livestock Trends and Gujarat’s Dairy Model
Livestock population growth has varied across Indian states. Between 2012 and 2019, Madhya Pradesh’s livestock population increased from 36.3 million to 40.6 million, West Bengal’s from 30.3 million to 37.4 million and Bihar’s from 32.9 million to 36.5 million.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana also recorded notable growth. In contrast, Rajasthan’s livestock population declined from 57.7 million to 56.8 million, while Gujarat recorded a marginal decrease from 27.1 million to 26.9 million.
Despite this slight decline, Gujarat remains an important centre for organised dairy development. The 2019 census recorded 96.33 lakh cattle and 105.43 lakh buffaloes in the state. Its dairy ecosystem has increasingly focused on productivity improvements, breed development and cooperative networks.
The state’s dairy development efforts also include the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme, launched in 2007-08. The programme has provided more than 1.96 lakh milch animals to tribal women, supporting animal purchases, insurance, transportation, cattle feed, veterinary treatment and training.
Institutions such as the Gujarat Gopalak Development Corporation and dairy cooperatives, including Banas Dairy, have helped connect livestock-rearing households with markets, technical assistance and veterinary services. These networks play an important role in strengthening the dairy value chain and supporting rural livelihoods.
Vaccination and Alternative Income Opportunities
At the national level, the Rashtriya Gokul Mission focuses on conserving and improving indigenous cattle breeds through scientific breeding. The Banaskantha facility is expected to complement these efforts by preserving valuable genetic traits and expanding access to advanced reproductive technologies.
Animal healthcare is another key component of India’s dairy strategy. The nationwide vaccination programme against diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease aims to protect livestock and minimise production losses. According to figures highlighted by the Prime Minister, nearly 150 crore vaccine doses have been administered, covering livestock belonging to more than eight crore farmers.
Disease prevention can help maintain consistent milk production while reducing the financial burden of veterinary treatment on farmers.
The government is also encouraging dairy households to generate income from resources beyond milk. Two Bio-CNG plants proposed by Banas Dairy at Tharad and Radhanpur will collectively process 175 tonnes of cattle dung daily. The facilities are expected to convert cattle dung and agricultural waste into biogas, Bio-CNG and organic fertiliser.
This approach could create additional revenue opportunities for the dairy value chain while supporting cleaner energy production and improved soil health.
The wider agricultural support system also contributes to rural economic stability. The Prime Minister highlighted ₹4.5 lakh crore transferred to farmers under PM-KISAN and ₹24 lakh crore paid to paddy and wheat farmers through minimum support prices over 12 years.
India’s dairy sector is gradually moving towards a science-driven model built around higher productivity, improved animal health and diversified income sources. However, ensuring that these developments translate into better and more stable farmer incomes will require continued investment in quality fodder, cold-chain infrastructure, fair milk procurement prices, veterinary access and modern breeding facilities.
Ultimately, the success of India’s dairy transformation will depend on how effectively these improvements reach small and marginal livestock farmers across the country.
