Sri Vijaya Puram, May 18: India officially participated in the 4th Mundial do Queijo do Brasil 2026 (World Cheese Competition) for the first time under the coordination of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) held at Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 16th to 19th April 2026. The Indian delegation included representatives from Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, A&N Administration, NDDB, Mother Dairy, Amul and Eleftheria Cheese. The international event witnessed participation from nearly 30 countries and brought together leading cheesemakers, dairy experts, buyers, and industry professionals from across the world and Andaman Goat Milk Cheese- “Merom Tua” was one of the official entry in the championship.
Dr. K.A. Naveen, Director, Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, A&N Administration, participated as part of the official 5-member Indian delegation under DAHD. The participation of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands at the international event marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time that cheese from the Islands was showcased on a global platform. During the event, Director, AH&VS presented artisanal goat milk cheese produced in the Islands and highlighted the potential of goat milk-based value-added products such as artisanal cheese and premium-quality TFM soaps for improving income opportunities for tribal and rural communities. The showcase received appreciation from international visitors and dairy experts, while emphasizing unique disease-free environment of these Islands and the role of small-scale dairy initiatives in supporting entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and sustainable rural livelihoods.
On the final day of the visit, the delegation visited Estancia Silvania, one of Brazil’s leading dairy farms, for an educational exchange on regenerative dairy farming, A2 milk production, and advanced breeding technologies.