Milk output rises 70% in last 11 years, India to be free from FMD in 3 years: Govt in RS

New Delhi: Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Wednesday highlighted that India's milk production increased nearly 70 per cent in the last 11 years to 248 million tonne in 2024-25 and that the country will become free from foot and mouth disease (FMD) in next three years.

Replying to supplementary queries during Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, Singh, the Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, informed that the outbreaks of FMD and Brucellosis have declined during the last few years.

"India is the largest milk producer in the world," he said, adding that the milk production has increased sharply in the last 11 years of this current government.

The country's milk production surged nearly 70 per cent to 248 million tonnes in 2024-25 from 146.3 million tonne in 2014-15.

During this period, Singh said the productivity has increased from 1,648 kg per animal annually to 2,251 kg per animal.

"We are not able to export despite being the largest milk producer. The main reason is FMD," he said.

Singh pointed out that developed nations need certification that India is free from FMD, then only they import dairy products.

The minister stated that the government has taken various measures to control FMD and the outbreak declined to 40 last year from 132 in 2019. He said the Centre is bearing all expenses for vaccination.

Singh said the aim is to make India free from FMD, with certification from the World Organisation for Animal Health.

In a written reply, the minister said that, total 132.49 crore (130.30 crore cattle/buffalo and 2.19 crore sheep/goat) have been vaccinated for FMD.

Also, 3.17 crore, 4-8 months old bovine female calves for Brucellosis have been vaccinated under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) of Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) since inception till March 20, 2026.

This is as per the information uploaded by states on Bharat Pashudhan Portal. Vaccination for FMD is done bi-annually.

"Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) has streamlined the mass vaccination programs under LHDCP scheme. The number of outbreaks of FMD has reduced from 132 in 2019 to 40 during 2025. Similarly, the outbreaks of Brucellosis decreased from 22 in 2019 to 6 during 2025," Singh said.

The department has developed digital data base- Bharat Pashudhan -using a unique 12-digit Tag ID allocated to each livestock for identification and traceability.

In respect of sheep and goat, flock registration is done by tagging single representative animal of the flock. So far 36.81 crore animals have been registered on the portal.