Which of the following countries is the largest producer of milk?

Concept

World rankings for an agricultural commodity are decided by total national output (tonnes produced per year), not by per-animal yield or by herd quality. The country that produces the greatest total volume of milk holds the top rank, even if individual animals there yield less than in countries with intensive dairy farming.

Application

India is the world's largest producer of milk, contributing roughly one-fifth to one-fourth of global milk output. This lead rests on the country's very large bovine population (cattle plus a dominant share of the world's buffaloes, which are heavy milk yielders) combined with a vast network of small dairy households, a structure built up since the cooperative dairy expansion of Operation Flood. India has held this top position since the late 1990s and has retained it through 2017 and beyond.

Contrast

• China — a major dairy market and a large overall agricultural producer, but its total milk output is well below India's.

• Brazil — a leading global producer of beef, sugar, coffee and soybeans, yet its milk output ranks below the top spot.

• Australia — a notable dairy exporter relative to its population, but its small national herd keeps total production far short of the leader.

Therefore the largest producer of milk among the given countries is India.