New Delhi (India), 15th April 2023: Parshottam Rupala, the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy, made it plain on Friday that the nation will not import dairy goods like butter and that the supply would be boosted with the aid of a seizable untapped home market.
Rupala’s statement comes after the top official in his ministry said last week that the country would import dairy goods if necessary because its stockpiles, particularly of butter and ghee, were lower than in the previous year.
The official from the ministry also stated that the country’s milk production is anticipated to remain unchanged in 2022–2023 as a result of cattle with lumpy skin disease and a resurgence in post–COVID–19 demand.
Rupala said, “There is no truth in it (shortage of dairy products). No import will take place…The demand has increased. We have a huge untapped area, we will try to tap that…We will manage it properly and there is no need to worry.”
Sharad Pawar, a former agricultural minister and NCP leader, wrote to the government last week to ask it not to explore importing dairy goods, claiming that doing so would negatively impact the revenue of domestic milk producers. However, the Government declined and have refused to import dairy.
