NDDB to cover 23,800 vilages, 1.2 million milk producers in NDP-I

ANAND: The National Dairy Development Board ( NDDB) said today it plans to cover 23,800 more villages and 12 lakh milk producers in India, during the first phase of the National Dairy Plan ( NDP) to achieve a milk production target of 155 million tonnes by 2016-17.

The NDDB, which is the implementing agency for the World Bank-assisted central scheme with a total outlay of Rs 2,242 crore, has approved 49 projects of Rs 329 crore, spread across eight states, during the first phase of NDP.

"We have approved 49 projects of Rs 329 crore spread across eight states, pertaining to pedigree selection, fodder development and village-based milk procurement systems," NDDB Chairman Amrita Patel told reporters.

"Projects of states of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal are to be approved in a month's time," she said, adding that 13 states have complied and committed a timeline to undertake policy support measures, while discussions are on with Bihar.

The NDDB plans to approve 26 other projects for NDP's first phase by March end.

Of the 49 projects, 13 projects have been approved by the board to strengthen village-based milk procurement systems covering 3,111 villages and 96,591 members, in dairying states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

These will be implemented by the respective state milk unions like Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow Milk Union.

Currently, India produces around 127 million tonnes of milk which has been projected to reach 155 million tonnes by the end of the 12th Five Year Plan. India's per capita milk consumption has risen to 291 grams in 2011, up from 222 grams in 2001-02.