The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) of India has unveiled the first phase of the National Dairy Plan (NDP) in eight states of the country, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Maharashtra to increase milk production.
NDP is a central sector scheme funded by the World Bank and is being implemented by NDDB.
As part of this program, National Steering Committee (NSC) has approved INR1.31bn ($24.39m) for the financial year 2012-13.
Currently 13 states out of the 14 major dairying states are included in the scheme and talks are on with Bihar.
Cooperatives will also be supported in providing rural milk producers with greater access to the organised milk processing sector.
NDDB chairman Amrita Patel said that the investment covers 49 proposals relating to progeny testing, pedigree selection, strengthening of semen stations, ration balancing program, fodder development and village based milk procurement systems from the eight states have been approved by the Project Steering Committee.
Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal will be joining the scheme in a month's time.
NDDB has completed a baseline survey in nine states and all the 14 major dairying states will be covered by end of the financial year 2012-13.
