POTENTIAL FOR INVESTMENT IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY OF INDIA

Potential for investment in the dairy industry

The highest milk producer in the entire globe – India boasts of that status. India is otherwise known as the ‘Oyster’ of the global dairy industry, with opportunities galore to the entrepreneurs globally. Anyone might want to capitalize on the largest and fastest growing milk and mil products' market. The dairy industry in India has been witnessing rapid growth. The liberalized economy provides more opportunities for MNCs and foreign investors to release the full potential of this industry.
The main aim of the Indian dairy industry is only to better manage the national resources to enhance milk production and upgrade milk processing using innovative technologies. Some areas of Indian dairy industry can be toned up by the evocation of differentiated technologies and equipment from overseas.

 These include:

1.    Raw milk handling: The raw milk handling needs to be elevated in terms of physicochemical and microbiological properties of the milk in a combined manner. The use of clarification and bactofugation in raw milk processing can aid better the quality of the milk products.

2.    Milk processing: Better operational ratios are required to amend the yields and abridge wastage, lessen fat/protein losses during processing, control production costs, save energy and broaden shelf life. The adoption of GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) would help produce milk products adapting to the international standards.

3.    Packaging: Another area that can be improved is the range of packing machines for the manufacture of butter, cheese and alike. Better packaging can assist in retaining the nutritive value of products packed and thus broaden the shelf life. A cold chain distribution system is required for proper storage and transfer of dairy products.

4.    Value-added products: There's vast scope for value-added products like desserts, puddings, custards, sauces, mousse, stirred yoghurt, nectars and sherbets to capture the dairy market in India.

The Indian dairy industry has aimed at better mananamegemt of the national resources to enhance milk production and upgrade milk processing involving new innovative technologies. Multinational dairy giants can also make their foray in the Indian dairy market in this challenging scenario and create a win-win situation for both.

India's Milk Product Mix

Fluid Milk	46.0%
Ghee	27.5%
Butter	6.5%
Curd	7.0%
Khoa (Partially Dehydrated Condensed Milk)	6.5%
Milk Powders, including IMF	3.5%
Paneer & Chhana (Cottage Cheese)	2.0%
Others, including Cream, Ice Cream	1.0%

Overview of the Indian Dairy Sector

ñ The country is the largest milk producer all over the world, around 100 million MT

ñ Value of output amounted to ` 1179 billion (in 2004-05) (Approximately equals combined output of paddy and wheat!!)

ñ 1/5thof the world bovine population

ñ Milch animals (45% indigenous cattle, 55 % buffaloes, and 10% cross bred cows)

ñ Immensely low productivity, around 1000 kg/year (world average 2038 kg/year)

ñ Large no. of unproductive animals, low genetic potency, poor nutrition and lack of services are the main factors for the low productivity

ñ There are different regions – developed, average, below average (eastern states of Orissa, Bihar and NE region) in the dairy industry.

Apart from the native methods found implemented in the dairy industry sector, some of the important areas in the Indian dairy industry can be upgraded by introducing differentiated technologies and devices imported from overseas. Some of the crucial areas in which foreign technologies will be useful in the Indian scenario include raw milk handling, milk processing, packaging and manufacturing value-added products.

Raw Milk Collection and Processing

Raw milk handling in India can be modernized using technologies that take into account physicochemical and microbiological properties on a combined platform. The implementation of clarification and bacto-fugation techniques in raw milk processing can help in achieving better quality in dairy products. Some of the other methods that need to be implemented in the dairy industry include ensuring better operational ratios to enhance yield and avoid wastage, bring down fat and protein loss while processing, controlling production costs, energy saving and widening shelf life. Adopting GMP (good manufacturing practices) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) will help in improving the standards of the milk products to international standards.

Milk Packaging

Packaging is yet another important area that needs to be improvised. This segment requires a range of innovative packing machines for transporting and exporting butter, cheese and allied products. Improving the packing standards will mean preserving the nutritive value of the dairy products and lengthening their shelf life. In addition, the dairy industry also needs a cold chain distribution system for storing and transferring dairy products.

Manufacturing Value added products

There is an enormous scope seen ahead before the Indian Dairy Industry for value-added products including custards, desserts, puddings, sauces, mousse, stirred yoghurt, nectars and sherbets. The Indian Dairy industry aims at implementing better management practices in the arena to significantly enhance the milk production in the country besides upgrading the milk processing techniques to international standards. Multinational players can take advantage of the prospective opportunity to land on a win-win situation for both partners in the group.