New Delhi

The government on Tuesday said milk procurement and dairy product supplies across India remain normal, with prices stable despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

At an inter-ministerial media briefing, Puja Rustagi said there has been no disruption in milk availability or dairy market operations anywhere in the country.

She stated that procurement, processing and distribution of milk have continued smoothly, while timely payments to dairy farmers have also been maintained during the crisis period.

India remains the world’s largest milk producer, with total milk output recorded at 247.87 million tonnes during 2024–25.

Rustagi said a review meeting was held on Monday with state milk federations and dairy unions to assess the sector’s preparedness and monitor any possible fallout of the West Asia situation.

According to her, there are currently no concerns regarding fuel, gas or plastic packaging supplies for the dairy industry.

She added that the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying has been regularly engaging stakeholders and closely tracking developments to keep the dairy supply chain functioning without interruption.

On fuel availability, she referred to an order issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on April 8, 2026, under which key industries, including dairy plants, are receiving 70 per cent of their pre-March 2026 bulk non-domestic LPG supply.

To reduce future dependence on LPG, dairy plants have also been encouraged to switch to piped natural gas wherever practical.

Rustagi further said that supplies of polypropylene and polystyrene — key raw materials used in plastic packaging — are stable, ensuring uninterrupted packaging support for milk and dairy products.

The department has also created a dedicated digital portal, launched on March 30, 2026, through which state federations and milk unions can report the availability of milk, fuel and packaging material in real time.

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She added that for exports, a simplified animal quarantine clearance mechanism was introduced on March 25, 2026, to help facilitate the return of exported cargo to Indian ports when required.