BANGALORE: The 34th Indian Dairy Industry Conference, which will be held here from Wednesday, will focus on the emerging challenges in the wake of changed domestic and world trade regime.

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Indian Dairy Association (IDA) President Animesh Banerjee said the industry is facing many challenges, including adoption of new technology, lack of infrastructure, low per-capita productivity and subsidy. India is the leading milk producer in the world.

There is a need to adopt new strategies to face domestic and global challenges and market for milk products.

Dwindling feed and fodder resources, consumerism and environmental concerns have resulted in a multitude of challenges for the industry, he said.

Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia will inaugurate the conference on "Indian dairying - road map to meet emerging challenges" organised by IDA with principal sponsorship from the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences Convention Centre. Over 1,200 delegates from India, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Egypt are expected to participate.

A session to deal with farmers' problems and scientific dairying will be held. A poster session to highlight the salient findings of research work conducted by dairy professionals will be held on Thursday.

In 2004-05, the country exported over 25,000 tonnes of milk products, he said. Karnataka, after Gujarat, is leading milk producing State.

The sale of curd from KMF is highest in the country at 1.2 lakh litres a day. The State exported milk products worth Rs. 25 crores last year.

KMF has been supporting about 18-lakh dairy farmers through 8,390 dairy cooperative societies. With 140 bulk milk coolers and milking machines installed in 94 dairy cooperatives, KMF is promoting and facilitating clean milk production, said Jayaprakash Reddy, managing director, KMF.

Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar, Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh, Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash, and Minister for Animal Husbandry Mirajuddin Patel will attend valedictory function of the three-day conference, Mr. Banerjee said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail