India wants to turn its position as the world’s largest milk producer into a stronger presence in global dairy trade. Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh said India is targeting foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)-free status in at least nine states within the next two years, a move aimed at opening markets such as Europe that have remained difficult for Indian dairy exporters.
The government says sustained indigenous vaccination has already reduced FMD outbreaks sharply, from 105 cases in 2021 to 40 in 2025. Nine states with consistently low outbreak levels and completed vaccination cycles have been identified as the first candidates for FMD-free certification.
Singh highlighted the export challenge facing India despite its scale: developed markets, particularly Europe, require FMD-free certification for dairy imports. The initiative therefore links animal-health improvements directly with India’s ambition to expand dairy exports and gain access to high-value international markets.
India’s domestic milk production has also continued to expand, reaching 247.87 million tonnes in 2024–25, compared with 230.58 million tonnes in 2022–23 and 239.30 million tonnes in 2023–24. The government is simultaneously supporting increased procurement, processing capacity, village-level dairy cooperatives, milk-quality testing and modern dairy infrastructure. (Digital Sansad)
The larger opportunity is clear: India’s next dairy challenge may not be producing more milk, but making more of that milk export-ready through disease control, quality assurance, traceability, processing and internationally accepted standards.
Source: Dairynews7x7 11 Aug, 2026 Read full article here
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