Asia is expected to produce 320mn tonnes by 2021 to order meet its growing demand for milk and dairy products, said FAO in a report
According to the report, the demand for milk and its products in the region will reach almost 320mn tonnes by 2021. However, FAO assistant director-general Hiroyuki Konuma added, “The region will need to increase milk availability by another 50mn tonnes within this decade. Although domestic dairy production has responded to this growing demand, it continues to fall short of its targets and most countries in Asia are confronted with increasing dairy import bills.”
FAO deputy regional representative Vili Fuavao added that nearly 80 per cent of milk in the Asia-Pacific region is produced by smallholders. “So improving their abilities to organise and thus, giving them greater bargaining power in the market place must be the core element of our work,” he noted.
He also stressed on increased participation of women in the dairy sector so that they become active participants in strategic decision-making.
