Lumpy skin disease led to stagnation in milk production: Centre
Context:
The Centre is foreseeing a “stagnation” in milk production and a possible scarcity of ghee and butter as an impact of the lumpy skin disease (LSD) that took the lives of about 1.89 lakh cattle recently.
Points to ponder:
- Cattle are susceptible to the viral illness lumpy skin disease. It is spread by ticks or other insects that feast on blood, such as some types of flies, mosquitoes, and ticks. Particularly in animals that have never been exposed to the virus before, it can also result in death and produce fever and skin nodules.
- The recent outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) has led to a potential stagnation in milk production and a shortage of ghee and butter in India.
- The LSD outbreak caused the death of approximately 1.89 lakh cattle.
- The government will consider all options, including importing certain milk products if the situation remains unchanged.
- Another factor driving up the cost of milk and its byproducts are the rising cost of and shortage of fodder.
- The annual growth rate of milk output is typically 6%, but this year it has either stagnated or increased by just 1% or 2%.
- Data from the cooperative sector indicate a 2% increase in output, whereas data from the private sector indicate stagnation in production.
- Despite the supply of milk remaining unchanged, the market for milk has increased by 8% to 10%.
- During the COVID-19 lockdowns, people refrained from making investments in the industry, which led to an increase in milk prices.
- Although there are not any major shortages of milk, there may be some due to lower-than-normal supply levels of ghee and butter.
- The stagnation in output and the rise in prices are caused by the rising price of fodder.
- While the dairy industry has been expanding at a rate of 6% over the past five decades, the fodder cultivation area has stayed roughly constant at 4%.
- Price increases are a result of seasonal and regional scarcity, but the problem might be balanced out with investment from both farms and businesses in this industry.
