Boosting India’s dairy productivity with climate-resilient solutions

A new report highlights strategies to boost India’s dairy productivity while reducing emissions. Key recommendations include balanced diets, efficient breeding, manure management, and climate-resilient practices. With smallholder farmers producing 62% of the country’s milk, sustainable solutions are vital for aligning growth with climate goals.

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A new report highlights that balanced diets, effective breed, manure management, and precision dairy farming technologies can enhance dairy productivity in India while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Titled “India’s Dairy Future: Aligning Livelihoods, Growth, and Climate Solutions,” the report notes that the doubling of India’s female bovine population from 122.7 million in 1972 to 246.7 million in 2019 has led to a corresponding rise in emissions. The livestock sector in India is expected to contribute 15.7% of global enteric methane emissions by 2050.

According to the International Energy Agency, India is the third-largest methane emitter globally, with livestock accounting for 48% of the country’s methane emissions, primarily from cattle. Despite the growing female bovine population, India’s milk yield per cow remains two-thirds of the global average, significantly lower than in developed nations. Climate change further exacerbates the issue, with heat stress, water scarcity, and rising feed costs impacting productivity and livestock health.

To address these challenges, the report recommends climate-resilient practices, including balanced diets under initiatives like the Ration Balancing Programme and silage feeding in water-scarce regions. Hydroponics and climate-resilient forage crops such as Bajra, Napier, and millets can mitigate fodder shortages in drought-prone areas. Improved breeding management, including artificial insemination and enhanced veterinary services, can address challenges like repeat breeding and estrus detection.

Manure management practices, such as composting and biogas production, are essential for reducing methane emissions. Good animal husbandry practices like vaccination, deworming, and biosecurity are critical but face adoption barriers due to limited veterinary services and cost concerns. Precision dairy technologies, including automated milking systems, offer potential but require cost-effective solutions for smallholder farmers.

With over 300 million dairy animals, India accounts for 25% of global milk production, contributing 5% to its GDP and supporting smallholder farmers, who produce 62% of the milk supply.