New Delhi [India], March 3: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah emphasized the critical role of the dairy sector in India’s development during a press conference on Monday. Shah stated that the dairy industry plays an essential part in advancing the country’s economy, ensuring nutritional security, and uplifting rural communities, including landless and small farmers. He also reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming India into the third-largest economy and a fully developed nation by 2047.
Shah highlighted that India’s agricultural system heavily relies on small farmers, and the dairy sector is key to their prosperity. He noted that the sector is vital for rural development and the overall well-being of the country. “We have no other option except dairy. It’s one of the few viable avenues for rural economic growth,” Shah said. He emphasized that a holistic approach to exploring all possibilities within the dairy sector would be instrumental in achieving these goals.
Over the past decade, significant strides have been made toward the prosperity of farming, Shah added, citing new methods of agricultural development, enhanced confidence through cooperatives, and a shift from village-based to global markets. The government’s commitment to empowering farmers through cooperatives has also contributed to this progress, as cooperatives not only aim for profit but prioritize people’s welfare, Shah explained.
At the event, a guide on circularity in the dairy sector was released, alongside several initiatives such as NDDB’s financial assistance for small and large biogas projects. Shah called for NDDB and NABARD to launch pilot schemes to explore the full potential of the dairy sector within the next six months. He also stressed that gas production models must be implemented across all 250 district milk-producing associations within two years, with a focus on local farmers.
Shah also proposed the inclusion of high-quality animal feed within the cooperative network and suggested that cooperatives should address animal health and nutrition for livestock, even for those outside the cooperative’s purview. Highlighting successes in Gujarat, Shah emphasized that similar developments should be replicated across the country to strengthen the cooperative network and increase milk productivity.
Additionally, Shah spoke about the innovative “cooperation among cooperatives” model in Gujarat, which has significantly boosted cooperative sector deposits and financial inclusion in rural areas. He urged for more collaboration with cooperative banks to improve professionalism and enhance the banking system within the sector.
Shah also stressed that the concept of circularity extends to domestic production of dairy machinery and technology, suggesting that all dairy-related equipment should be manufactured in India. He called on NDDB to ensure that cooperatives play an active role in machinery production, with profits returning to the cooperative sector.