World Milk Day: A reflection on health, nutrition, and rural livelihood

Heramba Nath

(herambanath2222@gmail.com)

World Milk Day, observed globally every year on June 1, is a meaningful
occasion dedicated to recognising the importance of milk as a global food. It highlights not only the nutritional value of milk but also the crucial role played by the dairy sector in sustaining rural economies and improving the livelihoods of millions. Introduced by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2001, the day encourages the consumption of milk and dairy products while raising awareness about the dairy industry’s contributions to economic development, nutrition, and environmental stewardship.

Milk has long been regarded as a near-complete food, rich in essential nutrients such as calcium, protein, vitamin B12, riboflavin, and potassium. It plays a pivotal role in the healthy growth and development of children, strengthening bones, and supporting immunity. For centuries, milk has held a prominent place in the diets of many cultures, often symbolising purity, sustenance, and vitality. Its consumption has evolved from traditional farm-to-home supply models to a modern dairy industry offering a wide array of processed, fortified, and value-added products.

India, as the world’s largest producer and consumer of milk, attaches particular significance to this day. The country’s dairy sector has witnessed remarkable growth since the launch of Operation Flood in 1970 under the visionary leadership of Dr. Verghese Kurien, famously known as the Father of the White Revolution. This pioneering programme transformed India from a milk-deficient nation into the largest milk producer globally, empowering millions of rural dairy farmers, particularly women. It democratised access to milk and dairy products, provided sustainable livelihoods, and established a cooperative framework that remains a global model for dairy development.

Every year, World Milk Day is marked by events, campaigns, and initiatives organised by government agencies, private dairy companies, cooperatives, educational institutions, and international organisations. These include awareness seminars, health camps, exhibitions, and milk donation drives for underprivileged communities. In recent years, digital campaigns have gained traction, with social media challenges, virtual contests, and educational videos promoting the health benefits of milk and dairy consumption.

The annual themes for World Milk Day reflect global priorities surrounding health, sustainability, and inclusivity. Recent observances have emphasised dairy’s role in reducing hunger, promoting climate-smart agriculture, and supporting women’s empowerment. At a time when the world faces climate change and environmental challenges, sustainable dairy practices — such as climate-resilient livestock breeds, efficient water usage, renewable energy adoption, and improved waste management — have become essential to global discussions on milk production.

India’s northeastern region, particularly Assam, holds a distinctive place in the country’s evolving dairy narrative. Although traditionally not a major dairy-producing state compared to Gujarat or Uttar Pradesh, Assam has witnessed steady growth in milk production in recent years. According to the latest estimates by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Assam now produces over 1.1 million metric tonnes of milk annually — a figure that reflects both progress and untapped potential. The dairy sector in Assam remains closely linked to the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers, most of whom rely on livestock rearing as a supplementary source of income.

Dairy cooperatives in districts like Kamrup, Darrang, Nalbari, and Sonitpur have enabled farmers to access markets, veterinary services, and fair pricing mechanisms. Women’s self-help groups engaged in dairy farming have significantly enhanced rural household incomes and improved child nutrition outcomes. The integration of traditional dairy practices with modern technology is creating new opportunities for rural entrepreneurs, cooperatives, and agripreneurs.

Government schemes such as the National Programme for Dairy Development, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, and Assam’s dedicated Dairy Development initiatives have played a vital role in enhancing milk production, cattle health, and fodder management in the state. The Assam government has also invested in expanding dairy processing infrastructure, milk chilling centres, and cold chain logistics — recognising the sector’s potential to reduce rural unemployment, improve livelihood security, and bolster community nutrition. Programmes promoting dairy entrepreneurship among rural youth have shown promise in addressing migration, underemployment, and rural distress.

World Milk Day also provides an opportunity to dispel prevailing myths and misconceptions about milk consumption. In an increasingly health-conscious society, debates continue over lactose intolerance, fat content, and the merits of plant-based milk alternatives. Nutrition experts consistently advocate for balanced consumption, underscoring milk’s rich nutrient profile, especially for children, adolescents, pregnant women, and the elderly. The dairy sector has diversified its offerings to include low-fat, fortified, probiotic-rich, and lactose-free products to meet evolving consumer preferences and health needs.

Ensuring quality and safety in milk production and supply remains a persistent challenge in India, and Assam is no exception. Issues of milk adulteration and contamination have periodically surfaced, endangering public health and eroding consumer trust. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has actively worked to enforce stringent quality standards, regular testing, and awareness drives to ensure safe, hygienic, and wholesome dairy products. In Assam, initiatives under the Eat Right India campaign have prioritised milk safety through routine checks, consumer education, and improved hygiene practices at collection, transportation, and processing centres.

Celebrations of World Milk Day in Assam’s schools, colleges, anganwadi centres, and public health institutions have included programmes such as free milk distribution for students, awareness lectures on the health benefits of milk, and essay and painting competitions on dairy farming and nutrition. These efforts not only encourage milk consumption among younger generations but also educate them about the value chain that brings milk from rural farms to urban households, fostering awareness about nutrition and rural livelihoods.

Assam’s indigenous dairy products — like doi (curd), paneer (cottage cheese), ghee (clarified butter), and sweets such as rasgulla and pitha — carry significant cultural, culinary, and economic value. Integrating these traditional products with modern processing, packaging, and marketing strategies has opened new avenues for rural dairy entrepreneurs, women’s groups, and cooperatives. Promoting the production and sale of such value-added dairy products can substantially contribute to the rural economy while preserving Assam’s rich culinary heritage.

On the global front, World Milk Day offers a platform for international dairy associations, farmers’ groups, nutritionists, and policy-makers to deliberate on ethical trade practices, sustainable livestock management, and strategies to reduce the environmental footprint of dairy production. Innovations such as methane-reducing cattle feed additives, renewable biogas units, water conservation systems, and improved fodder cultivation practices are gaining popularity in progressive dairy hubs and offer valuable lessons for Assam’s dairy sector.

For rural India, dairy farming delivers benefits that go far beyond economics. It improves household nutrition, strengthens food security, and fosters social cohesion within communities. Women’s participation in dairy cooperatives has enhanced household incomes, elevated social standing, and created spaces for collective bargaining, leadership, and grassroots empowerment. In Assam too, women-led self-help groups involved in dairy farming and product processing have played a transformative role in strengthening village economies, boosting family earnings, and improving maternal and child health outcomes.

From a public health perspective, milk remains an indispensable component of dietary guidelines, contributing to improved maternal and child health, bone strength, immunity, and the prevention of micronutrient deficiencies. Public health campaigns such as the Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) have effectively integrated milk consumption strategies to combat malnutrition and address hidden hunger, especially in remote and economically disadvantaged regions of Assam.

As India pursues its goal of doubling farmers’ incomes and expanding its dairy export capacity, World Milk Day presents a timely occasion to reflect on achievements and identify challenges ahead. Issues such as fluctuating milk prices, rising fodder costs, livestock disease outbreaks, and climate change risks call for sustained policy attention, robust cooperative frameworks, and community-driven, scientific solutions. Strengthening Assam’s dairy cooperative network, expanding modern milk processing facilities, promoting cattle insurance schemes, and training farmers in scientific dairy management practices will be critical for ensuring the sector’s long-term growth and resilience.

Above all, this day serves as a tribute to the millions of dairy farmers, workers, veterinarians, entrepreneurs, and cooperatives whose relentless efforts bring milk from farms to homes, secure livelihoods, and ensure nutritional security. It highlights a collective commitment to health, rural empowerment, and sustainable agriculture. As the world faces challenges of food security, environmental degradation, and public health crises, milk and the dairy sector will continue to play a vital role in shaping a healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable future.

For Assam, the observance of World Milk Day carries deeper resonance. It symbolises the importance of preserving the state’s dairy traditions and indigenous products while harnessing its dairy economy as a powerful tool for rural prosperity, youth employment, and nutritional security. Promoting responsible consumer behaviour, encouraging sustainable dairy practices, supporting self-help groups, and improving veterinary care services will be essential for Assam to fully realise its dairy potential.

Ultimately, World Milk Day is more than a celebration of a wholesome beverage. It is a reminder to policy-makers, farmers, cooperatives, and citizens alike of the importance of nurturing India’s — and Assam’s — dairy legacy and ensuring that the benefits of this vital sector are shared equitably, sustainably, and with foresight for generations to come.