Last year, India's dairy milk production surpassed 200 million litres, but there is also growing interest in milk from other animals, particularly camel and goat, for health reasons. "There is a growing interest in camel and goat milk. Demand is high," says Hitesh Rathi, the founder of Aadvik Foods.
He should know better because his company, which was founded six years ago, sells camel, goat, and donkey milk in both domestic and international markets.
Preferred by Autistic Kids
Camel milk is in high demand due to its medicinal properties, particularly for autistic children. "It aids in the improvement of the behaviour of autistic children. Because the milk contains natural insulin, it is beneficial to diabetics. Overall, it is a good source of vitamins," he stated.
The company's most devoted customers were autistic children. "It may sound strange, but it is beneficial to height growth. Eight out of ten users reported height growth," Rathi claimed.
High Demand during Dengue
Camel milk is also consumed for lactose intolerance, religious purposes, and general immunity, and type 1 diabetes children have reported a decrease in the need for insulin shots, according to him.
Goat milk, on the other hand, is in higher demand than camel milk, particularly during dengue outbreaks, but its quality and authenticity are questioned.
"During the dengue outbreak, goat milk prices in the national capital region of Delhi skyrocketed to $1,800-2,000." However, there is no guarantee that you are getting goat's milk," he said, adding that Aadvik Foods entered this market three years ago for this purpose.
Anti-Ageing Properties
Demand for goat milk is increasing, but Aadvik saw a drop in business-to-business segment demand last year, primarily on the export front. "We saw definite growth in the business-to-consumer segment," said the company's founder.
Aadvik Foods plans to release flavoured goat milk and goat milk chocolate in the near future. "Children should drink goat milk." However, they may dislike the odour. As a result, flavouring milk may be an option. "Goat milk is also low in lactose, which is good for digestion and kids with dairy milk allergies, as well as recovery from muscle problems," he added.
Rathi added that donkey milk was in high demand in the skincare industry due to its anti-aging properties. Apart from incurring debts, the company has raised its own funds. It was profitable until the last fiscal year and reinvested its reserves and surpluses back into the business.
