Milk output in India to touch record 121.5 mn tonnes in 2011

"India's milk production in 2010 is estimated at 117 million tonnes and is forecast to increase approximately 4 per cent to a record 121.5 million tonnes in 2011, reflecting a near normal monsoon...," the USDA said in a report.

Earlier, the USDA had projected that production of milk would amount to 113.5 million tonnes in 2010. However, it later revised the estimate upward to 117 million tonnes on account of the good monsoon last year, which led to increased availability of fodder for cattle.

"Liquid milk production in 2010 is revised to reflect greater than 4 per cent growth over 2009 production due to a strong monsoon and related good fodder availability," the report said.

In 2009, liquid milk production in the country stood at 112 million tonnes, despite poor monsoon rainfall.

The milk production will go up due to the improved management practices adopted Indian dairies and efforts by the private and public sector to improve cattle genetics, besides good fodder availability, the USDA report said.

India is the world's largest producer of dairy products and home to the world's largest dairy herd. However, the country still faces a production shortfall due to massive demand from the growing population.