This sector plays a vital role in supplementing family income and generating gainful self-employment for the economically weaker sections of the society, particularly the small farmers and agricultural labourers.
This sector is estimated to account for nearly 26% of the total value of agricultural output. India has the world's 2nd highest production of milk. India possesses 26 good breeds of cattle and six breeds of buffaloes. India's cattle is renowned the world over for its quality of endurance and resistance to tropical diseases. As per a 1987 census, India has about 195.87 million cattle, 76.77 million buffaloes, 44.84 million sheep, 99.41 million goats, 10.76 million pigs, 2.9 million pack animals and 258.34 million poultry birds!
The `Operation Flood' program, which is an integrated dairy development program, has made considerable progress. By September 1994, about 68,900 dairy cooperative societies were organized in 170 milksheds involving 8.8 million member farmers. The average milk procurement during April-September 1994 was 9.45 million kgs of milk per day.
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