Dairy industry in India - statistics & facts
Dairy is a significant part of the human diet across the world. It offers an abundance of nutrients in the form of calcium, minerals, and proteins. However, in India, the use of dairy goes far beyond fulfilling dietary and nutritional needs. Its importance is deep-seated in Hindu mythology. Hindus consider cows to be sacred embodiments of the goddess Kamdhenu. The Rigveda, one of India’s most ancient scripts written around 1,700 BC, also mentions the use of milk and other dairy products in the Indian subcontinent. This, in part, has led India to be one of the leading producers and consumers of milk in the world.
The Indian dairy market continues to be a vital economic sector that provides livelihood to a million people and contributes substantially to the country's GDP. The market is poised for considerable growth with continued modernization and expansion initiatives.
Dairy powerhouse
India’s journey to the summit of the dairy market started in 1970 under the guidance of Dr. Verghese Kurien. ‘Operation Flood’ - a massive dairy development program, marked the beginning of India’s transformation from a milk deficient nation to its largest producer. Home to over 61 million milk cows, India produced more than 239 million metric tons of milk in the fiscal year 2024. Unsurprisingly, the country reared nearly thrice the number of milk cows than in the entire European Union that year. Moreover, Uttar Pradesh was the largest milk-producing state in India, followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.Brands reshaping the dairy market
Despite being an important contributor to the country’s economy, the Indian dairy industry is highly unorganized, fragmented, and lacks technological advancements. The unorganized sector consisted of traditional milkmen who sold raw or unprocessed milk to their customers and other vendors. The organized sector, on the other hand, consisted of various private cooperatives. Amul, the Indian dairy cooperative society, was one of the leading brands worldwide, with a brand value of over three million U.S. dollars. Along with this Gujarat-based cooperative, Mother Dairy were the two most dominating players in the country.Growing appetite for dairy products
Dairy products are the chief sources of protein for millions of Lacto-vegetarians in the country. An even larger part of the population who cannot afford meat rely heavily on dairy for their dietary protein demand. The overall domestic consumption of milk was over 210 million metric tons in 2024. In addition, the daily consumption of milk was equal among men and women. India offers a variety of dairy-based cuisines that are unique to its diverse culture. Paneer, a soft and non-melting kind of cottage cheese, is very popular in the North and used in several dishes. Milk and curd are also indispensable to the many popular Indian beverages, including tea, coffee, and lassi.The Indian dairy market continues to be a vital economic sector that provides livelihood to a million people and contributes substantially to the country's GDP. The market is poised for considerable growth with continued modernization and expansion initiatives.
