Farmer Welfare Initiatives Worth Rs 300 Crore Inaugurated; NDDB Begins Vegetable Processing to Help Farmers Reach Global Market

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, inaugurated a series of farmer welfare schemes worth Rs 300 crore during the National Dairy Development Board's (NDDB) diamond jubilee celebration on October 22, 2024. The event also marked the birth anniversary of Tribhuvandas Patel, a pioneering figure in India’s dairy cooperative movement, in Anand, Gujarat. Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, and several other dignitaries attended the occasion.

In his address, Amit Shah highlighted the launch of White Revolution 2.0, a major initiative aimed at empowering new and existing dairy cooperatives. Shah emphasized that the cooperative sector, under this new revolution, will support over one lakh dairies across the country, expanding milk production and milk routes. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for strengthening the dairy sector and mentioned that the Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) for White Revolution 2.0 have been created based on the Prime Minister's farmer-centric policies.

Shah paid tribute to Tribhuvandas Patel, describing him as a visionary who dedicated his life to empowering poor farmers. He noted that Patel's cooperative model, which started as a small society, now connects 2 crore farmers and has grown into a multi-thousand-crore business. Shah credited Patel’s efforts for improving the livelihoods of 5 crore cattle rearers and helping crores of farmers, particularly women, prosper through the cooperative sector.

Reflecting on the history of the dairy revolution, Shah recalled the visit of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to Amul Dairy in 1964, which led to the establishment of NDDB. He praised the NDDB's efforts over the past 60 years in empowering farmers and rural communities across India. Shah mentioned that the NDDB not only organized the cooperative sector but also addressed issues such as child malnutrition and women's empowerment by providing nutrition through dairy products.

Amit Shah highlighted the crucial role NDDB played in accelerating rural development and making Indian agriculture self-reliant. The NDDB, he said, spearheaded the Operation Flood program, which led to the original White Revolution, transforming India into the world’s largest milk producer. Today, NDDB handles the sale of 427 lakh liters of liquid milk daily and has grown its revenue significantly.

Shah also highlighted new initiatives taken by NDDB, including the Gobardhan scheme, which promotes sustainable practices by converting cow dung into gas and fertilizer. This initiative has not only boosted agricultural productivity but also improved the environment, while ensuring that profits from these activities are distributed to grassroots farmers, especially women.

The Minister underscored the Make in India initiative's impact on the dairy sector, stating that all new dairy processing plants will be built in India. During the event, the foundation stone was laid for a Mother Dairy fruit and vegetable processing unit worth Rs 210 crore, and the launch of new products like Badri Ghee from Uttarakhand and Gir Ghee from Mother Dairy was announced.

Shah also mentioned that the Ministry of Cooperation has launched three new national-level cooperative institutions and that the government is working to establish 2 lakh new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). This initiative aims to strengthen the cooperative framework and ensure fair prices for all milk-producing families in India.

Shah noted that India has overtaken the U.S. as the world’s largest milk producer, with 231 million tons of production. He emphasized the government’s goal to connect all eight crore milk-producing families with the cooperative sector, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their efforts.