White Revolution 2.0 | 23 Sep 2024

Source: TH 

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Cooperation unveiled standard operating procedure (SOPs) for White Revolution 2.0, aimed at empowering women farmers and creating job opportunities. 

What are the Key Facts About White Revolution 2.0? 

• About White Revolution 2.0: It is an initiative to increase milk production along with empowerment of women and the fight against malnutrition. 
  • It is in line with White Revolution launched in 1970 by Dr. Verghese Kurien that transformed the dairy-deficient nation into the global leader in milk production.  
  • White Revolution is also known as ‘Operation Flood’. 
• Target under White Revolution 2.0: Dairy cooperatives are projected to procure 100 million kilograms of milk daily by the end of the 5th year of the initiative. 
  • It aims to increase procurement led by cooperatives from the present 660 lakh litres per day to 1,000 lakh litres. 
• Launch of Margdarshika (SOPs): Margdarshika (SOPs) has been launched to form 200,000 new multipurpose primary agricultural cooperatives (MPACs). 
  • It will foster new cooperatives in panchayats that don’t have one for agricultural, fisheries and dairy-related activities. 
  • It has been prepared by the Ministry of cooperation in collaboration with NABARD, and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). 
  • Women Empowerment: Maximum women are engaged in the dairy sector, generating business worth Rs 60,000 crore in Gujarat alone.  
  • The initiative will empower women by absorbing them in formal employment as the money will be deposited in their bank accounts. 
• Tackling Malnutrition: With the increase in availability of milk, the biggest benefit will pass on to the poor and malnourished children.  
  • It will strengthen the fight against malnutrition by ensuring adequate nutrition for children. 
• Integration with Existing and Upcoming Schemes: The plan will build on existing government schemes such as the Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) and the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD). 
  • A new phase, NPDD 2.0, is also proposed under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying to further the cooperative agenda. 
• Expansion of 'Cooperation Among Cooperatives' Initiative: The government launched the nationwide expansion of the ‘Cooperation among Cooperatives’ initiative, which was piloted successfully in Gujarat. 
  • It allows dairy farmers to access interest-free cash credit via RuPay Kisan Credit Cards and will distribute micro-ATMs to bring financial services to rural areas. 
• PACS Computerisation: Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the computerisation of Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) was launched to modernise PACS, ensuring more efficient and transparent operations.

What is the Need of White Revolution 2.0? 

• To Increase Milk Productivity: The average yield is only 8.55 kg per animal per day for exotic/crossbred animals, and 3.44 kg/animal/day for indigenous animals.  
  • The yield in Punjab is 13.49 kg/ animal/ day (exotic/ crossbreed), but only 6.30 kg/ animal/ day in West Bengal. 
• Reversing the Decline in Annual Growth Rate of Milk Production: The growth rate decreased from 6.47% in 2018-19 to 3.83% in 2022-23, indicating a deceleration in the rate of increase in milk production. 
• Formalisation of Milk Consumption Pattern: About 63% of the total milk production comes to the market; the remaining is kept by producers for their own consumption.  
  • About two-thirds of the marketable milk is in the unorganised sector.  
  • In the organised sector, cooperatives account for the major share. 
• Milk as the Top Food Expenditure in India: In rural India, the average monthly expenditure on milk per person was Rs 314, surpassing other food items like vegetables, cereals, and eggs. 
  • Similarly, in urban India, milk expenditure was Rs 466, higher than fruits, vegetables, cereals, and meat. 
• Checking Rising Milk Prices: The all-India modal price of milk increased from Rs 42 to Rs 60 per litre over the past five years due to rising input costs, including fodder and feed. 
  • There is concern that further price increases may lead to demand destruction, as consumers may find milk unaffordable. 
• Methane Emissions: Livestock emissions from manure and gastroenteric releases account for roughly 32% of human-caused methane emissions which is a major cause of global warming. 

How can Milk Production be Increased Under White Revolution 2.0? 

• Genetic Improvement: The introduction of sex-sorted (SS) semen can increase the probability of female calves with higher milk productivity, such as Kankrej and Gir, being born to 90%, thereby boosting the number of future milk-producing cows. 
  • Sex-sorted (SS) semen allows for the production of offspring of a desired sex e.g., only female calves. 
• Embryo Transfer (ET) Technology: ET technology can further enhance the productivity of high-genetic-merit (HGM) cows by allowing multiple embryos to be produced and implanted into different surrogate cows. 
  • Through this method, a single HGM cow can potentially produce 12 calves per year, compared to 5-7 calves over its lifetime through normal breeding. 
• In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) Technology: In IVF technology, immature ova are extracted, fertilised in a lab, and then implanted in surrogate cows.  
  • It can produce 33-35 calves per donor cow per year, allowing for a quicker scaling of the cow population with high milk yields. 
• Nutrition and Feed Intervention at Low Cost: Along with genetic improvement, interventions in animal nutrition are essential to reduce feed costs. 
  • Amul is setting up a Total Mixed Ration (TMR) plant in Gujarat, which will produce affordable ready-to-eat fodder mixes consisting of maize, jowar, and oat grass for animals. 
  • TMR is a feeding method that combines forages, grains, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and additives into a single nutrient-rich feed for cows. 
• Improved Diet Quality: Providing easily digestible forages like legumes and grains reduces fermentation time, lowering methane production. 
  • Specific feed additives can directly inhibit the microbes responsible for methane production. 
  • Released methane can be further used for biogas production. 

What are the Related Schemes for the Livestock Sector? 

• Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) 
• National Animal Disease Control Programme 
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission 
• National Artificial Insemination Programme 
• National Livestock Mission 

Conclusion 

White Revolution 2.0 aims to transform India’s dairy sector by enhancing milk production, empowering women farmers, and lowering production costs through genetic improvements, embryo transfer (ET), and in vitro fertilisation (IVF). With a focus on reducing feed expenses and increasing milk yield, it ensures sustainable growth while maintaining affordability, boosting farmer incomes, and strengthening the rural economy.