Dairy Industry Conference: 50th Edition to hold from 4th to 6th March at HITEX Hyderabad by IDA

Hyderabad: The 50th Dairy Industry Conference (DIC) is to be held at the Hitex Exhibition and Convention Center in Hyderabad. Along with the conference, there is a concurrent Dairy Expo wherein dairy machinery and products manufacturers are expected to participate in large numbers. The exhibition will be spread over 5500 sq. meters in 3 different halls and 230 exhibitors will showcase their products and capabilities. It is estimated that about 2500 delegates from all over India and from about 30 countries will  participate in the event. There will be about 60 technical and industrial presentations, 100 scientific posters and farmers’ session with the participation of about 700 farmers also forming part of the event. Young dairy professionals and CEO panel discussion will be the added attractions of the event.

This year the theme of the conference is “Indian Dairying: Innovation & Entrepreneurship” and keeping this in mind about 20 presentations are focused on the theme of the conference. Interesting presentations related to the generation of potable water from the air, online cattle marketing, and carbon restoration in soil are likely to generate interest in Dairy professionals.

About 100 CEOs of different dairies, Secretaries from the Government of India and states, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the National Dairy Development Board, National Dairy Research Institute are likely to participate in the conference. The conference also will host Southern Dairy Ministers in a conclave scheduled for 5th March 2024. The Dairy Industry Conference is a convergence of young and experienced dairy minds of the country joining together at Hyderabad to deliberate and plan for future dairy development in the country.

Interesting Facts:
✓ India ranks number One in Milk production and accounts for 26% of World Milk production.
✓ The Milk economy is estimated to be more than INR 8 Lakh Crores.
✓ Milk alone contributes about 4% to the Indian GDP
✓ The Milk production in India is increasing by 5% compared to the world growth of 1.5%.
✓ The per capita milk availability is 430 g per citizen per day.
✓ Nearly 80 million farmers are dependent on Dairying as a profession for their livelihood.
✓ About 70% of labour in dairy management is contributed by Women
✓ Nearly 20% of total milk production is contributed by Southern India
✓ Indian Dairy Association (IDA) started in the year 1948 is celebrating its 75th Platinum Jubilee year
✓ Golden Jubilee edition of the Dairy Industry Conference (DIC) is being organized at Hitex in Hyderabad from March 4th to 6th, 2024.
✓ About 100 CEOs of different dairies, Secretaries from the government and other esteemed dignitaries are likely to participate in the conference.
✓ The conference will host Southern dairy ministers in a conclave scheduled for 5th March, 2024

Indian Dairy Scenario.
Dairy along with crop farming continues to be the backbone of the Indian rural economy. India accounts for about 15% of World’s cattle population and 60% of the buffalo population. Indian share in the World Milk production is estimated to be 26%
with the current estimated production of 230 million tonnes. The current production ensures per capita Milk availability of 430 g per citizen per day which is much higher than the recommended dietary guidelines. In terms of value, the Milk economy is estimated to be 100 billion US $. Milk alone contributes about 4% to the Indian GDP which is higher than the total contribution of crops like Rice + Wheat + Sugar Cane. The Milk production is increasing by 5% compared to the world growth of 1.5% and this growth ensures India’s position as the largest Milk producer in the World for many more years to come. Now the burden of framing appropriate policies for the growth of this sector lies entirely with the Government. The growth in the Dairy sector is larger than the Agri sector but however, is less than the poultry sector.

Many farmers are dependent on the Dairy economy as Milk is the single largest commodity pumping cash daily for the livelihood of the people in the rural areas. It is estimated that nearly 80 million Farmers are dependent on Dairying as a profession for their livelihood. The contribution of Women in the Dairy economy is substantial as Women take an active role in managing the cattle, feeding, cleaning, shed management, grazing, milking, and other activities. It is estimated that about 70% of labour in Dairy management is contributed by Women. Thus, Dairying plays a key role in the socio-economic fabric of the rural economy. Another important point to be noted is that despite its large contribution to the Indian economy, there is no minimum support price mechanism, unlike the several agricultural commodities. The Dairy economy is market driven and it is in the interest of the Government to further create the required infrastructure for the growth of the sector.

Dairying in Southern India.
Southern India comprising Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu & Pondicherry, and Telangana contributes significantly to the Indian dairy economy accounting for nearly 20% of total milk production. Andhra Pradesh contributes the largest estimated at 8% and combined with Telangana accounts for 50% of Southern Milk Production. It is also estimated that more than 80% of marketable surplus in Southern India is collected by the organized sector which is much larger than the national average estimated at around 52%. The Milk in the organized sector is collected by both the Cooperative and the private sector. The private sector in recent times has surpassed the cooperative sector accounting for nearly 56% of the organized Dairy sectors.

The Dairy Industry is one of the largest components of the Food Processing Sector and accounts for nearly 50% of the economic value. There is a healthy ecosystem built over the years by involving all stakeholders like Milk producers, processors, Machinery manufacturers, researchers & educationists, and marketing professionals. Indian Dairy Association is the largest organization that brings together all the stakeholders with the single point agenda of dairy development and protecting the welfare of the dairy farmers.

Indian Dairy Association.
The Indian Dairy Association (IDA) started in the year 1948 in Bangalore is the single largest association connecting all the Dairy stakeholders. The association headquartered in New Delhi is celebrating its 75th Platinum Jubilee year. It has four zonal headquarters in South – Bangalore, North – Delhi, East – Kolkata, and West – Mumbai. Besides there are at present about 10 state chapters functioning in different states. The association organizes the annual conference – Dairy Industry Conference (DIC) in rotation in different zones. The Golden Jubilee edition of the conference is being organized in Hyderabad from the 4th to the 6th of March 2024. It is the fourth time the conference is being held in Hyderabad, but the last 23rd edition was in the year 1989. It is 35 years after the last conference that it is coming back to Hyderabad. Between these two conferences, the milk production has nearly increased by 4.5 times and the industry in economic terms has grown nearly 10 times. The private sector is very vibrant in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and is contributing to the Dairy economy along with the cooperative sector.