India aims to emerge as leading exporter of dairy products: Rajiv Ranjan Singh

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh has said the Government of India is committed to positioning India among the world’s leading exporters of milk and dairy products, building on the country’s success in the fisheries sector.

Inaugurating the 3rd National Sustainable Agriculture Summit & Awards 2026 in the national capital, the Union Minister said the government’s sustained focus on strengthening dairy and fisheries is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047, where a robust agricultural economy and diversified rural enterprises play a central role in improving farmers’ incomes and ensuring long-term rural prosperity.

The Summit was organised by Sustainability Matters, IndiAgri and Action for Change, Transformation & Innovation (ACTION), bringing together policymakers, senior government officials, industry leaders, scientists, researchers and farmers to deliberate on the future of sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Singh said the Government has undertaken a series of initiatives to strengthen dairying and fisheries as key drivers of rural prosperity, farmer income and exports. He reiterated that expanding rural enterprises through these sectors remains a national priority and that creating a separate Ministry for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in 2019 ensured focused policy attention and greater investment in these high-potential sectors.

“India today is the world’s largest producer of milk and the second-largest producer of fish. Our objective is not only to increase production but also to establish India among the leading exporters of milk and dairy products, just as we have strengthened our position in fisheries exports. Scientific interventions, infrastructure development, disease control programmes and value-chain investments are helping transform these sectors into engines of rural growth,” the Minister said.

He noted that India’s milk production has reached nearly 248 million tonnes, while inland fisheries production has grown by more than 105 per cent, with the fisheries sector recording overall growth of nearly 147 per cent. He highlighted flagship initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund, and the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme, alongside technologies including sex-sorted semen and IVF that are improving livestock productivity and enhancing farmers’ incomes.

The Minister also underlined the importance of biogas plants in generating additional rural income through the productive use of agricultural and animal waste, while contributing to environmental sustainability. He added that India’s vaccination drive against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and engagement with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) are helping create internationally recognised disease-free zones, opening new opportunities for exports of livestock and dairy products. These remarks are consistent with the Government’s broader policy direction for the sector.

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha said that while dairy and fisheries had traditionally been considered part of agriculture, it was only after 2019 that the two sectors received a decisive policy push through focused institutional support.

He said this shift has enabled states such as Bihar to build integrated agricultural models encompassing crop farming, horticulture, dairy and fisheries, thereby strengthening rural livelihoods and expanding income opportunities for farmers. Dr Navneet Anand, Executive Director, Sustainability Matters, said, “India’s agricultural transformation depends on strengthening every pillar of the rural economy.

Dairy, fisheries, livestock, sustainable farming and innovation must progress together if we are to achieve higher farmer incomes, food security and long-term sustainability. This Summit serves as a platform to bring together government, industry, academia and farmers to collectively shape that future.”

Among the distinguished dignitaries present was Dr Meenesh C Shah, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB); Manoj Kumar Dubey, Chairman, Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC); Dr Rajendra Prasad, GM, SIDBI, along with senior policymakers, industry leaders, scientists and stakeholders from across the agriculture value chain.

The Summit was supported by IRFC, SIDBI, NABARD, KRIBHCO, HURL, Sira Seeds, Comfed and Omfed.