A.P. aims to improve cattle health, boost milk production

Andhra Pradesh highlighted the growing importance of the dairy sector on the eve of National Milk Day and the Animal Husbandry Department outlined key initiatives aimed at improving cattle health, increasing milk production and strengthening rural livelihoods.

Director of Animal Husbandry T. Damodar Naidu on Tuesday said the state is providing doorstep veterinary services through Rythu Seva Kendras, while also implementing fodder safety measures, fodder improvement programmes, genetic improvement of high-yielding breeds, infertility treatment camps, sex-sorted semen distribution, livestock insurance and mobile veterinary clinics. He added that these interventions help farmers create healthier herds and achieve higher productivity.

Mr. Damodar Naidu emphasized that dairy farming has historically played a vital role in rural life and is the largest source of income in India’s agricultural sector, contributing about 5 percent to the national economy and directly supporting more than 80 million farmers. India accounts for 24.64 per cent of global milk production and national production has increased by 58 per cent in the last nine years.

Andhra Pradesh ranks seventh in the country with annual milk production of 13,946 million tonnes, supporting around 2.5 million dairy farmers. The government aims to double the current value of the dairy sector to ₹713.9 billion by 2033. He added that per capita milk consumption is 719 grams per day, which is significantly higher than the national average.