Operation flood: impacts and issues

This article investigates whether Operation Flood - the Indian dairy programme supported by the WFP, the EEC and other international donor agencies - has achieved its objectives of enhancing dairy production in India while also offering poor and landless farmers a chance to participate in dairying. Detailed empirical work on the project did not confirm the grand claims made for Operation Flood as a success story of global significance. In particular, conclusions are highlighted with regard to Operation Flood's impact on India's dependency on foreign (EEC) deliveries of skim milk powder; India's domestic dairy production; the incomes of participating farmers; existing informal dairy production and marketing; the nutritional levels in rural areas; and the position of rural women. Various options for the future are outlined.