Question : Present an account of the success and constraints of White Revolution in India.
(2005)
Answer : The phenomenal increase in milk production of the country has been termed as ‘White revolution’. The milk production which was almost stagnant between 1947 and 1970 with an annual growth rate of merely one percent has since registered a vigorous growth
rate of over 45 percent per annum. The milk production has increased to 85 million tonnes in 2002-03 from only 17 million tonnes in 1950-51 i.e. increase being 400%. India at present, is the largest producer of milk in the world.
White revolution started with the launching of Operation Flood I in July 1970. Under this project National Dairy Development programmes were started in 10 states of the country which included the development of infrastructural facilities for the procurement of milk from rural areas, its processing, marketing, provision of cattle feed, animal health care facilities, artificial insemination and extension services. The important step in the project was setting up of 4 Mother Dairies at Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata.
The Operation Flood II (1979-85) involved an investment of Rs 485.5 crores to cover about one crore rural milk producer families. Under this project steps were taken to improve the quality of cattle feed, increase pasture facilities, promote animal health care facilities, improve cattle breed, and provide better facilities to milk producers. Under this scheme, within 25 contiguous milk shed areas (in 155 districts) a cluster of Milk Producer’s union was established. The research institute at Hyderabad has developed a vaccine called Raksha to control cattle diseases.
The programme also involved improvement in milk marketing in 144 more cities of the country. The Operation Flood III which was completed in April 1996 and helped in the organisation of 73,300 dairy cooperative societies under 170 milksheds involving over 9.4 million farmer members.
The programme has made a sound impact on rural masses and has encouraged them to take up dairying as a subsidiary occupation. It has also offered a reliable and regular source of income as more than 62% of milk procurement in the operation Flood areas has come from the marginal, small and landless farmers.
To ensure the success of operation Flood programme research centres have been set up at Anand, Mehsana and Palanpur (Banaskantha). Besides this several regional centres are functioning and milk products are supplied from surplus to the deficit areas through the National Dairy Grid.
White Revolution is as important to dairy development as Green Revolution has been to the foodgrains production. Its outcome based on improvement of cattle breeds and adoption of new technology. The rural co-operative societies have played pivotal role in the success of White Revolution.
The Indian dairy industry has a broad prospects ahead. It should take advantage of the liberalisation in the global trade and should capture international market. The manufacture of casein, mozzarella cheese, lactose, lactic acid etc will have more export potential and will earn higher price than liquid milk.
Many corporate sector firms like Indianna, Amrut Industries, Dalmia, Shell International and Milk Food have already stepped in to take advantage of the situation. The governmenttoo has consituted Technology Misson for dairy development and Amul model co-operatives are being promoted to cover about 60% of the country areas.
Achivements: Major achievements are:
Problems and Prospects: Main Problems and prospects are:
