India to become largest milk producer in 2026 – OECD & FAO Report

According to OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2017-2026, released by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, India will be the world’s largest milk producer by 2026 and will account for the biggest increase in wheat production globally.

Highlights of OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2017-2026:

Population:

As per OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2017-2026, world’s population will increase from 7.3 to 8.2 billion over the course of the next decade with India and Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 56% of total population growth.

• The report outlined that given their strong population growth, India and Sub-Saharan Africa will drive a large share of global demand.
• India’s population will grow from 1.3 billion to 1.5 billion. It will overtake China and is projected to be the most populous country in the world by 2026.

Milk Production:

The report has projected that over the first quarter of the 21st century, milk production in India will be nearly tripled.

• From 2017-2026, milk production in India will grow 49%; in 2026, India will be the world’s largest milk producer.
• In 2026 milk production in India will be one-third above the second largest producer, the European Union. 

Wheat Production:

Global production of wheat is projected to increase by 11% from 2017-2026, while the wheat area will increases by only 1.8%.

• The increase in wheat production is expected to occur through higher yields, most notably in Asia and Pacific, which will account for 46% of additional wheat production.
• Within the region and globally, India (15 Mt) will account for the biggest increase in wheat production and Pakistan (6 Mt) and China (5.5 Mt) are also expected to have significant gains.
• The European Union will account for 13% of the production increase.

Rice Production:

Rice production is expected to grow by 66 Mt from 2017-2026 and will be almost exclusively driven by yield growth, which will accounts for 93% of additional production.

• The global area dedicated to rice is expected to increase by only 1% from the base period, while global yields will increase by 12%.
• Major production gains are projected for India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam with yields in these countries expected to increase by over 15%.

About OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook:

• The Agricultural Outlook is a collaborative effort of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
• It provides an annual assessment of prospects for the coming decade of national, regional and global agricultural commodity markets