World Milk Day

• 01 Jun 2022

Why in News?

June 1 is observed as World Milk Day every year.

What are the Key Highlights?

• About
  • World Milk Day is a day established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 2001 to recognize the importance of milk as a global food.
  • The day is intended to provide an opportunity to bring attention to activities that are connected with the dairy sector.
• Theme:
  • This year’s theme will highlight the work already being done to accelerate climate action and help reduce the dairy sector’s impact on the planet.
  • Using the World Milk Day platform, awareness of the messaging and action will be raised towards Dairy Net Zero.
• Features:
  • It is encouraged to talk about the important contributions of the dairy sector to:
    • Good food, health and nutrition
    • Farmers caring responsible for their communities, the land and their animals
    • Sustainability practices in the dairy sector
    • How dairy contributes to economic development and livelihood
• Indian Dairy Sector: 
  • India is the world's largest milk producer, with 22% of global production, followed by the United States of America, China, Pakistan and Brazil.
  • Milk production in the country has grown at a compound annual growth rate of about 6.2% to reach 209.96 mn tonnes in 2020-21 from 146.31 mn tonnes in 2014
  • The top 5 milk-producing states are: Uttar Pradesh (14.9%), Rajasthan (14.6%), Madhya Pradesh (8.6%), Gujarat (7.6%) and Andhra Pradesh (7.0%).

What are the Initiatives of the Government of India related to Dairy Sector?

• Rashtriya Gokul Mission: This mission is launched to improve productivity and enhance milk production through genetic upgradation of bovine population and development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds.
• Gopal Ratna Award 2021: Gopal Ratna Award is given to encourage all individual farmers, artificial insemination technicians and Dairy cooperative societies working in this sector.
• Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme: Under this programme, Artificial Insemination services delivered free of cost at farmers’ doorstep.
• e-GOPALA app: A comprehensive breed improvement marketplace and information portal for direct use of farmers in the form of the e-GOPALA app (Generation of Wealth through Productive Livestock)
• National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD): “National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD)” is launched across the country since 2014 with an objective of strengthening of infrastructure for Production of quality milk, Procurement, Processing and Marketing of Milk & Milk Products through State Implementing Agency (SIA) i.e State Cooperative Dairy Federation.
• Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) Scheme: DIDF Scheme was launched in 2017 to modernize the milk processing & chilling plants including value addition.
• Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer Producer organizations engaged in dairy activities” (SDC&FPO):
  • Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has introduced a new component “interest subvention on Working capital loans for Dairy sector” as one of the components under its scheme SDC&FPO.
  • Kisan Credit Card (KCC) for Animal Husbandry & Dairying Farmers: Through Kisan Credit Cards, farmers are enabled to gain access to institutional credit at concessional interest rate for working capital expenditure.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question

Q. Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes? (2020)

1. Working capital for maintenance of farm assets
2. Purchase of combine harvesters, tractors and mini trucks
3. Consumption requirements of farm households
4. Post-harvest expenses
5. Construction of family house and setting up of village cold storage facility

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 5 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Ans: (b)

Exp:

• The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was introduced in 1998 for providing adequate and timely credit support from the banking system under a single window with flexible and simplified procedure to the farmers for their cultivation and other needs like purchase of agriculture inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. and draw cash for their production needs.
• The scheme was further extended in the year 2004 for the investment credit requirement of farmers viz allied and non-farm activities.
• Kisan Credit Card is provided with the following objectives:
  • The short term credit requirements for cultivation of crops,
  • Post harvest expenses, hence 4 is correct.
  • Produce marketing loan,
  • Consumption requirements of farmer household, hence 3 is correct.
  • Working capital for maintenance of farm assets and activities allied to agriculture, like dairy animals, inland fishery, etc., hence, 1 is correct.
  • Investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities like pumpsets, sprayers, dairy animals, etc. However, this segment forms the long term credit limit portion.
• The Kisan Credit Card Scheme is implemented by Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks and Cooperatives.
• The short term credit support is not given to farmers for Purchase of combine harvesters, tractors and mini trucks and Construction of family house and setting up of village cold storage facility. Hence, 2 and 4 are not correct.Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Source: IE