Role of Dairy Animal Sector in Food Security

摘要

Indian livestock sector is one of the largest in the world. In 2010-11 the value of livestock output at 3,338 billion was higher than food grains output. Among the livestock output, milk output was highest at 2,622 billion constituting 68 per cent ofthe livestock output. India is largest producer of milk in the world. It is worth noting that dairy animals constituting about 38 per cent of total livestock have contributed 68 per cent of livestock output. The importance of livestock as a source of food in general and milk in particular is on the rise (Planning Commission, 2012). The primary objective of this paper is to assess the role played by dairy sector in food security, along with the strengths and weaknesses of milk production system. The paper also suggests measures to accelerate growth of dairy sector.