NEW DELHI: Aiming to increase Milk consumption and subsequently better returns to dairy farmers, the agriculture ministry has written to all states to include milk in the mid-day meal (MDM) scheme for school children and even asked department of food and public distribution to consider inclusion of milk in the PDS system.
“Ministry of women and child development was also requested to include milk in the Nation Nutrition Mission through Anganwadi Scheme”, said an official, adding all these will help dairy farmers in getting better returns even in flush season during December to March.
These efforts are the part of the ministry’s overall plan to increase milk production to 255 million tonnes by 2022 so as to double the farmers’ income through allied activity of dairy farming.
The ministry had reviewed its measures to achieve the target in a special meeting last month when it was decided that the total share of milk procurement by cooperatives was to be increased from existing 10% to 20% of milk production by 2022.
“The cooperatives have also been advised to set a target 2% share in the world trade by 2020. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will prepare an action plan in coordination with the states to achieve the export target”, said an official statement.
Source : timesofindia