Lumpy skin disease led to stagnation in milk production: Centre

Source: The post is based on the article “Lumpy skin disease led to stagnation in milk production: Centre” published in The Hindu on 6th April 2023

What is the News?

The Central Government is foreseeing a slow growth in milk production and a possible scarcity of ghee and butter as an impact of the lumpy skin disease (LSD) that took the lives of about 1.89 lakh cattle.

What is Lumpy Skin Disease?

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How did Lumpy Skin disease impact milk production in India?

India is the highest milk producer in the world. Before the Lumpy Skin disease started impacting cattle, milk production was growing at 6% per year. However, this year, it is either stagnant or has grown at 1% or 2%.

On the other hand, the demand for milk has grown by 8% to 10%. The demand was suppressed during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Consequently, milk prices have been hiked. Ghee and butter stocks in the country have also been reduced.

An increase in the prices of fodder and its scarcity was also another reason for the “price inflation” in milk and its products. 

Hence, given the shortage of milk products, the Union Government may be forced to import ghee and butter later this year. India last imported milk products in 2011.