New Delhi, Aug. 25 -- Productivity of India's indigenous cattle lags behind most economies with significant dairy sectors, despite the marquee Rashtriya Gokul Mission, a federal programme for breed improvement, data cited in a parliamentary panel's report has shown.

The huge gap in annual milk output per animal, even though India is the world's largest milk producer, is one of the reasons why it would be challenging for the country's dairy sector to compete globally, analysts said.

India's total milk output, at 249 million tonnes in 2024, has grown by a robust 6% over the past decade on average. However, on a per animal basis, annual productivity is expected to grow to just 3000 kg by 2029-30, the report said.

The total productivity of...