Tight Milk Supply, Robust Demand Strains Indian Dairy Sector
India’s dairy sector is confronting tightening milk supply and margin pressure as it heads into 2026, according to a Systematix Institutional Equities expert session. The industry, which saw a temporary surplus in late 2024–25, has now entered a phase of supply contraction following multiple disruptions. Post-COVID challenges in 2022–23 saw milk prices fall below production…
Innovations in Dairy Processing: From Capacity to Capability
Dairy processing in India is undergoing a quiet but critical transition—from capacity creation to capability building. Despite being the world’s largest milk producer, India processes less than 30% of its milk into value-added products, compared to 70–80% in mature dairy economies. This gap represents the single largest unrealised opportunity in the sector. Innovation today is…
West Bengal Cabinet Approves Mother Dairy Calcutta–Banglar Dairy Merger
The West Bengal Cabinet has formally approved the merger of Mother Dairy Calcutta with Banglar Dairy, marking the end of the Mother Dairy brand’s independent existence in the state and consolidating dairy operations under the state-owned Banglar Dairy banner. West Bengal’s senior minister Chandrima Bhattacharya announced that the entire Mother Dairy Calcutta entity has been…
India Poised to Boost Dairy Exports As Milk Output Hits New High
Despite producing nearly a quarter of the world’s milk, India has been a marginal player in global dairy exports — responsible for only about 0.25% of global dairy trade even as the world market tops $33 billion annually. Official data shows India’s milk production surged to an estimated 247.87 million tonnes in FY25 and is…
Paneer Under Scanner as FSSAI Acts Tough
Is the loose, unpackaged paneer sold at local shops a genuine dairy product, or does it contain non-dairy substitutes? India’s apex food safety regulator has stepped in to ensure consumers are not shortchanged. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) plans to introduce stricter norms to help distinguish between paneer made purely from…
Punjab Dairy Reels After Rs 20/- Price Cut Farmers Protest
Dairy farmers in Punjab have raised the alarm after the state government reduced milk procurement prices by ₹20 per kg of fat with effect from 21 December, a move that has sharply dented farmer incomes and confidence in the sector. The Progressive Dairy Farmers Association (PDFA) has written to the Chief Minister urging an immediate…
Dr Anil Kumar Srivastava Clone Man of India Passes Into History
Obituary: Dr. Anil Kumar Srivastava (1957–2025) With profound sorrow, the dairy and scientific community mourns the passing of Dr. Anil Kumar Srivastava, esteemed former Vice Chancellor of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, who left us on 24th Dec 2025. Dr. Shrivastava — widely revered as the “Clone Man of India” for his pioneering work…
Nagaland: KDDFA hikes milk price to Rs 80 per litre
The Kohima District Dairy Farmers Association (KDDFA) has announced an increase in the price of pure fresh milk, citing rising input costs for livestock and milk production. Following a meeting, the association resolved to raise the milk price to ₹80 per litre from the existing ₹70 per litre in and around Kohima. The revised rate…
Camel Milk Struggles in Gujarat as Demand Fails to Grow
Despite periodic enthusiasm around niche dairy alternatives, camel milk has yet to find a strong foothold among mainstream consumers in Gujarat, with demand remaining largely stagnant in and around Rajkot. Producers and traders in the region report that while the product garners curiosity, actual repeat purchase and sustained market pull remain limited, leaving the camel…
India–NZ FTA Lets Dairy Be Processed Here, Not Sold Locally
The recently announced India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has clarified a key concern for India’s dairy sector: while tariff concessions and broader trade cooperation have been agreed upon, India has ruled out opening its domestic dairy market to direct imports from New Zealand. Consumer Affairs & Food Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized that the pact…