Milk production still 20% less than demand

Production of milk in the country is still 20 per cent less than the demand, although its production increased by more than 39 per cent in the last five years, according to available data.

The import of milk is increasing every year, especially to meet the demand for powdered milk. According to government data, the country annually imports milk worth more than Tk 4000 crore.

Farmers said due to the abnormal increase in the price of cattle feed and feed ingredients in the country; they are incurring losses despite an increase in the price of milk. Besides, due to lack of proper training and high volatility in the market, many farmers drop out at the beginning of their business.

According to data of Department of Livestock (DLS), the demand of milk in the country in last 2021-2022 fiscal year was 1.56 crore tonne (250ml per day per head). But the production was 1.30 crore tonne that year. The milk production was 0.94 core tonne in 2017-18 fiscal year.

although the country’s milk production increased more than 39 per cent within the last 5 years, but country suffer for short fall of milk production still more than 20 per cent.

According to data of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), milk import increased by 40 per cent in the last five years. In 2017-18 fiscal year country imported milk worth Tk 2,864 crore, which increased to Tk 4,023 crore in 2021-22 fiscal year.

Boshir Uddin, a wholesaler of powder milk at Moulvibazar in the capital, said, “Most of the country’s demand for powdered milk is met through imports. As the production of powdered milk in the country is not that much, we have to depend on imports. Most of these milks are used in the production of various foods including sweets, biscuits, and cakes. Some are packaged and sold by various brand companies in the market.”

Tapas Goswami, deputy manager (marketing) of the country’s largest milk producer and marketer Milk Vita, said, “Our production of powdered milk depends on the supply of liquid milk. If the supply is good we can produce more than 15 tonnes of milk per day. However, the supply of liquid milk is very low during most of the time of the year. As a result, the production decreases.”

World milk Day today

Today is World Milk Day. The day will be observed by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock in Bangladesh like other countries of the world. The ministry has chalked out various programmes marking the day. World Milk Day is an international day established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations to recognise the importance of milk as a global food. It has been observed on June 1 each year since 2001. The day is intended to provide an opportunity to bring attention to activities that are connected with the dairy sector.

A procession will be brought out from Agricultural Development Corporation office at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital by Directorate of Livestock under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock on the occasion of World Milk Day.

Besides, school milk feeding programme will be organised at Rajdhani High School in Dhaka. World Dairy Day 2023 celebration and Dairy Icon award ceremony will be organised at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh at Farmgate in the capital.