Discuss the significance effect of white …

Agriculture along with its allied activities forms the main source of livelihood for majority of the Indian population. For rural people it is their main source of income. Along with this, the livestock species in a rural household contribute to improve income and wellbeing of their owners by providing labour, food and employment in other allied activities. Although India had the largest number of cattle in the world, the produce from them was of inferior quality. To correct this, the government launched an integrated programmed to increase milk production and create better breeds of cattle. The rapid increase in milk production through integrated systems is called White Revolution. It was launched in 1970 by the National Dairy Development Board as a part of Operation Flood which is the world’s largest integrated Dairy Development Programme. Dr Varghese Kurien is considered as the father of White Revolution in India. The following are the significant benefits of the revolution –

• Increase in milk production – production of around 140 metric tons of milk in 2013-14 has enabled India to become the largest milk producing country in the world.

• Increase in rural employment and income of farmers – Increase in animal husbandry has enabled the employment of the landless and marginal farmers and rural women. It has also increased the income of rural households.

• Impact on urban areas – milk supply has increased in urban areas as the rural areas practicing animal husbandry found a ready market.

• Improvement of cattle breed – the white revolution included the proper management of the animals and prevention of diseases in them thereby improving the cattle breed in India.