Operation Flood: An Appraisal Of Current Indian Dairy Policy

Operation Flood is an ambitious dairy development program begun in India in the 1970's wherein surplus dairy commodities donated by European nations are recombined with local milk for sale to consumers. Proceeds are invested in dairy production and marketing infrastructure to enhance productivity while directing income benefits to the poor. The author here appraises the policy and concludes that the operation's emphasis on high-speed, high-cost discontinuous development through imported technology is detrimental to India's dairy economy and that less expensive indigenous alternatives are better suited to India's needs.