World Milk Day falls on 1st June every year, it is celebrated to understand the importance of dairy farmers and dairy sectors. The day also recognizes milk as the global food and raises awareness about dairy’s part in healthy living, diet, and food production.
India is the largest producer of milk, accounts for 22 percent of global milk production followed by US, China, and Pakistan. In 1955, India use to import 500 tons of butter but in 1975 imports related to milk and milk products were barred as India became self-sufficient in milk production. India’s success story in milk production was written by ‘Milkman of India’, Dr Verghese Kurien.
DR VERGHESE KURIEN:
Dr Verghese Kurien is known as ‘Father of White Revolution’, as White Revolution was his brainchild. It is because of him that today India has turned into the largest milk-producing country from milk deficient country.
Also Read: World No Tobacco Day 2021: From history to theme to significance, here’s all about the dayHe contributed in the establishment of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd and the National Dairy Development Board. Both boards became the base of the largest milk production.
Manthan, a 1976 film is a perfect example of Dr Kurien’s extraordinary efforts. Around 5000 families contributed Rs 2 to produce the film, which traces the origin of the world’s largest dairy development program. The film was directed by Shyam Benegal and was written by Dr Kurien and Vijay Tendulkar.
HISTORY of World Milk Day:
First World Milk Day was celebrated in the year 2001 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. June 1 was selected because many countries were celebrating milk day on the same date.
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The theme of World Milk Day 2021 is ‘Sustainability in the dairy sector with messages around the environment, nutrition, and socio-economics.’ Through their official website, FAO is encouraging, via videos, farmers and others who embracing technology to help create a low-carbon future for dairy. During the Covid crisis, the website also focuses on the impact of Covid-19 on World Milk Day.
SIGNIFICANCE of World Milk Day:
According to the experts, the day focuses on raising awareness about the importance of milk and milk products as part of the daily diet. As per the data released by the FAO, more than 1 billion people’s livelihoods are supported by the dairy sector.