June 1, 2020
History, significance and this year’s theme
Established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to recognize the importance of milk as global food, World Milk Day is been observed on June 1 each year since 2001.
1st June is observed as World Milk Day with the aim to raise awareness about milk and its importance as a global and super food.
In the last few years, India has become the largest producer of milk in the world with over 150 million tons of production and per capita availability of over 300 grams per day.
World Milk Day 2020 Theme
This year, the initiative has completed 20 long years, the theme is simply called ‘The 20th Anniversary of World Milk Day’.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no major events have been organized by the committee but the Global Dairy Platform has been asking the participants to talk about the benefits of dairy and along with highlighting the problems in accessing milk and dairy products in several parts of the world.
Significance of World Milk Day
Every year, World Milk Day in India is especially celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and different states participating with colorful programs. Milk and dairy is counted in an agrarian sector where major part of lives of Indian farmers depend on it. Many educational as well as commercial institutions on this day gives them the opportunity to discuss various aspects of milk & dairy products in India. Many Dairy colleges also participate on this occasion and remember the Father of White Revolution- Dr. Verghese Kurien.
The day encourages the benefits of dairy products related to health and nutrition, effectiveness and attainability, and the passion of the sectors and commitment to feeding our communities.
Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah took to twitter to wish people on the occasion of World Milk Day. “Greetings on World Milk Day. The day recognizes the importance of milk as a global food, and celebrates the dairy sector. India being the largest milk producer in the world, dairying holds a special place in our rural economy. #WorldMilkDay”, he wrote.