India's milk production rose nearly 4 per cent annually to 239.3 million tonnes in 2023-24 on better productivity, even as milk output of buffaloes declined 16 per cent annually. On the other hand, meat production rose nearly 5 per cent to 10.25 million tonnes in the last fiscal. The milk output of India, the world's largest milk producer, stood at 230.58 MT in 2022-23. 

However, the annual growth rate has slowed down in the previous two fiscal years, the data showed. The growth rate was 6.62 per cent in 2017-18; 6.47 per cent in FY19; 5.69 per cent in FY20; 5.81 per cent in FY21; and 5.77 per cent in FY22. In FY23 it came down to 3.83 per cent and 3.78 per cent in FY24.

As per government data, milk production from buffaloes has decreased 16 per cent in 2023-24 compared to the previous year.  Milk output from exotic/crossbred cattle has increased 8 per cent while production from indigenous/non-descript cattle increased 44.76 per cent.  According to an official statement, the total milk production in the country is estimated at 239.30 MT during 2023-24, registering a growth of 5.62 per cent over the past 10 years. Milk output was 146.3 MT in 2014-15.

 The top five milk producing states during 2023-24 were Uttar Pradesh with a share of 16.21 per cent of total milk production followed by Rajasthan (14.51 per cent), Madhya Pradesh (8.91 per cent), Gujarat (7.65 per cent), and Maharashtra (6.71 per cent).  In terms of annual growth rate, West Bengal was at the top (9.76 per cent) followed by Jharkhand (9.04 per cent), Chhattisgarh (8.62 per cent), and Assam (8.53 per cent) as compared to the previous year.

In an official statement, the ministry said that the total meat production in the country is estimated as 10.25 million tonnes during 2023-24 and registered a growth of 4.85 per cent over the past 10 years as compared to the estimates of 6.69 million tonnes in 2014-15. “Further, the production was increased by 4.95 per cent in 2023-24 over 2022-23," an official statement said.

Major contribution in the total meat production comes from West Bengal with 12.62 per cent share and it was followed by Uttar Pradesh (12.29 per cent), Maharashtra (11.28 per cent), Telangana (10.85 per cent) and Andhra Pradesh (10.41 per cent).  In terms of annual growth rate, the highest annual growth rate (AGR) has recorded in Assam (17.93 per cent), followed by Uttarakhand (15.63 per cent) and Chhattisgarh (11.70 per cent).

 As per the data, the country's total egg production is estimated as 142.77 billion during 2023-24 and registered a growth of 6.8 per cent over the past 10 years as compared to the estimates of 78.48 billion eggs during 2014-15.  Further, the production increased annually by 3.18 per cent during 2023-24 over the preceding fiscal.

 The major contribution in the total egg production comes from Andhra Pradesh with a share of 17.85 per cent of total egg production, followed by Tamil Nadu (15.64 per cent), Telangana (12.88 per cent), West Bengal (11.37 per cent) and Karnataka (6.63 per cent).  In terms of AGR, the highest growth rate was recorded by Ladakh (75.88 per cent) and followed by Manipur (33.84 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (29.88 per cent).

 As per the data, the total wool production is estimated as 33.69 million kg during 2023-24, registering a slight growth of 0.22 per cent over last year.

The major contribution in the total Wool production comes from Rajasthan with a share of 47.53 per cent followed by Jammu & Kashmir (23.06 per cent), Gujarat (6.18 per cent), Maharashtra (4.75 per cent) and Himachal Pradesh (4.22 per cent).

In terms of annual growth rate, the highest AGR has been recorded by Punjab (22.04 per cent), followed by Tamil Nadu (17.19 per cent) and Gujarat (3.20 per cent).