Though there is a huge scope of dairy farming in North East India, the farmers are not aware about the importance of milk, therefore, awareness training on economic important of milk should be given from time to time

1. Scope and Prospect of
Dairy Farming in North
Eastern Region of India
Dr. S. S. Hanah

2. POORVANCHAL REGION: Unity in
Diversity...Indian’s Speciality
(North East India)

3.  India has vast resource of livestock genetic resources comprising of
300 million bovines, 65.07 million sheep, 135.2 million goats and
about 10.3 million pigs as per 19th Livestock Census in the country
 India is the highest milk producer in the entire globe and it is also
known as the 'Oyster' of the global dairy industry.
 Witnessing rapid growth, producing 18.5 % of world total
production, achieving an annual output of 146.3 million tonnes
during 2014-15 as compared to 137.69 million tonnes during 2013-
14 recording a growth of 6.26 %.
 Per capita availability of milk - increased from 176 grams per day in
1990-91 to 322 grams per day by 2014-15 which is more than the
world average of 294 grams per day during 2013.
 This represents a sustained growth in availability of milk and milk
products for the growing population.

5.  Dairying - considered as a potential means of alleviating large scale
unemployment, nutritional security especially in rural areas- more
than million rural families are engaged in milk production.
 The demand for milk is increasing rapidly, reported to increase
about 155 million tonnes by the end of 12th five year plan and 200-
210 million tons in 2021-22, there is a need to reach an average of 6
million tons per year to meet the ever increasing demand.

7. Population of cattle in NER of India during the year 2013 (in 000’)
State Crossbred Local Total % share
Arunachal Pradesh 23 (5.01) 441 (94.99) 464 3.49
Assam 396 (3.84) 9912 (96.16) 10307 77.56
Manipur 44 (16.79) 220 (83.21) 264 1.99
Meghalaya 35 (3.93) 861 (96.07) 896 6.74
Mizoram 11 (32.68) 23 (67.32) 35 0.26
Nagaland 129 (54.86) 106 (45.14) 235 1.77
Sikkim 127 (90.07) 14 (9.93) 140 1.06
Tripura 133 (14.03) 816 (85.97) 949 7.14
NER Total 898 (6.76) 12391 (93.24) 13290 100
All India 39732 (20.81) 151172 (79.19) 190904 -
There is no recognized breed of cow and buffalo – considered to be important milk
producing animals
19th Livestock Census, there are 132.90 lakhs cattle in NER of India
Maximum cattle population is local cows, crossbred (CB) being only 7 % which is
much lower than the national average of 21 %.
The percentage decline in cattle population is higher in NER (-9%) than the national
average level of -4 %.
Livestock status in NER
Note: Figures in parentheses are percentage to total (Source: BAHS, 2014).

8. Milk Production (000 Tonnes)
State 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Arunachal Pradesh 24 26 28 361
Assam 753 756 790 752
Manipur 79 78 78 78
Meghalaya 78 78 79 77
Mizoram 17 11 11 17
Nagaland 53 78 76 45
Sikkim 42 44 43 42
Tripura 96 100 104 91
NER Total 1,142 1,171 1,209 1,134
All India 112,182 116,424 121,844 107,934
There is an increased trend of milk production from 1021 thousand tonnes in 1999 to 1236 thousand
tonnes in 2012-13 which is an increase of 17 % but during the same period milk production of India has
increased by 41 %.
Per capita availability of milk is only 86 gms/day which is only 29 % of the national average of 299
gms/day, much lower than the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommendation level of
milk consumption of 220gms/day for a person.
Source: 1. Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2011 & 2012, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture.
2. Basic Animal Husbandry & Fisheries Statistics 2013, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture

9.  The total milk production in this region is not sufficient to meet the demand
of the region
 It is observed that dairy farmers of the region don’t utilize properly the
scheme provided by the animal husbandry sector, Govt. of India.
 It is also reported that dairy farmers are no aware of different dairy
development scheme and farmers avoid spending any money or inputs on
these non-descript cattle.
Scope for Dairy Development in NER

12. Below tables are the facts and figures of how the concerned department has
implemented for dairy livestock improvement.
Artificial Inseminations performed during 2007-08 to 2011-12 in NER (000 Tonnes
State 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Arunachal Pradesh 1 1 1 2
Assam 144 134 204 204
Manipur 13 12 13 12
Meghalaya 24 27 29 29
Mizoram 4 5 5 4
Nagaland 24 20 50 5
Sikkim 7 8 10 10
Tripura 86 94 105 120
NER Total 303 301 417 386
All India 36,205 40,745 45,851 50,077
Source: Basic Animal Husbandry & Fisheries Statistics 2013, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and
Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture Note: *- Data Based on 31.03.2011

13. State Number of Animals Insured Under Livestock Insurance Scheme in
NER
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Arunachal Pradesh 72 585 298 142 39
Assam 1,138 432 17,470 20,947 30,641
Manipur 184 210 150 261 114
Meghalaya 124 326 396 308 392
Mizoram 0 591 173 0 105
Nagaland 3,567 4,993 3,140 4,460 1,612
Sikkim 2,310 2,013 313 1,386 1,446
Tripura 2,090 1,731 0 535 2,226
NER Total 9,485 10,881 21,940 28,039 36,575
All India 531,226 449,622 397,137 679,662 821,370
Source: Basic Animal Husbandry & Fisheries Statistics 2013, Department of Animal Husbandry,
Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture

14.  Data indicate that dairy farming standard of the region is still far behind the
national level.
 To attend the national standard, the concerned department should not lose
sight of long-term goals for short-term gains.
 they should disseminate information related to
A. Dairy development scheme
B. Subsidy information
C. Technical now how etc. provided by Government of India to rural
poor dairy farmers;
by conducting dairy development training, awareness camp etc.
 Encouraging dairy farmers for introducing high yielding breed for higher
productivity, to adopt “healthy practices” for healthy dairying and
further improving quality, both in terms of input as well as output.

15. Educating farmers for quality milk production through scientific
managemental practices: sanitation, provision of quality drinking water,
fodder, health care etc. to achieved healthy milk.
Both private and Government sector should shoulder together by developing
A. Infrastructure
B. Implementing integrated co-operative system of milk collection,
transportation, processing and distribution, conversion to milk powder
and products.
 In nutshell, a holistic approach is required such as technical support,
institutional and policy initiation for improvement of breeds, feed availability,
disease control, food safety and private investment are further required to expand
production and improve productivity.