World Milk Day is being observed today with the slogan of longevity, quality milk, and consumption of dairy products. Various programs are being held today under the coordination of the National Dairy Development Board. World Milk Day is being celebrated with the objective of spreading awareness among the general public to increase milk consumption. In many countries of the world, the day has been celebrated since 2001, but in Nepal, it has been celebrated only since 2011.
According to UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) standards, a person should consume at least 91 liters of milk per year to stay healthy. In Nepal, the rate is only 78 liters. Nepal produces 2.4 million metric tons of milk annually. There is a shortage of 13 liters of milk per person per year. The government aims to make Nepal self-sufficient in milk by 2080. In the budget of the current Fiscal Year 2078/79, a commitment was made to make Nepal self-sufficient in milk within two years. However, there is a challenge to become self-reliant next year as well.
Director of National Dairy Development Board Dr. According to Rajendra Yadav, if we can increase production, we can become self-sufficient in milk within a few years. He stressed that it is not possible to supply 13 liters of milk per capita in the next year, but it is necessary to increase milk production and organize distribution. According to government data, milk and milk products worth Rs 1.33 billion were imported in the first eight months of the current fiscal year.