Dairy Market Opportunities in India

Public policy dictated by food security and food self-sufficiency objectives have contributed to rapid increase in India's milk output. However, domestic production cannot match increasing demand. The opposition to culling non-productive animals, and constraints in feed and fodder production limit India's capacity to expand milk output. Milk and dairy products are important in the Indian diet, and the social and cultural life of the predominantly Hindu population. The socio-cultural features of India provide an interesting scenario- religious and cultural practices limit the capacity to increase domestic output but religious and cultural practices also contribute to increasing consumption. The reduction in tariff barriers and changes to public policy strategies (on food-security and food self-sufficiency) provide significant market opportunities in the Indian dairy sector