Women-Led Cooperatives Driving Rural Economies; India Aims to Become Milk Exporter: Rajiv Ranjan Singh

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, celebrated National Milk Day 2024 at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, marking the 103rd birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, revered as the "Father of the White Revolution in India." The event brought together policymakers, farmers, and industry leaders to honor his legacy and reflect on the progress and potential of India’s dairy sector.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh attended the event as the Chief Guest, alongside Ministers of State Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel and George Kurian as Guests of Honour. A highlight of the occasion was the presentation of the National Gopal Ratna Awards in three categories: Best Dairy Farmer rearing indigenous breeds, Best Artificial Insemination Technician, and Best Dairy Cooperative Society/Milk Producer Company/Dairy Farmer Producer Organization. For the first time, special awards in these categories were presented to winners from the North Eastern Region.

In his address, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh highlighted the dairy sector's significant role in the Indian economy. Contributing 5% to the national GDP, the sector directly employs over 8 crore farmers, predominantly women. India, the global leader in milk production, accounts for 24% of the world’s total output, with production reaching 230.58 million tonnes in 2022-23. Highlighting the potential for growth, Singh stressed transitioning the unorganized dairy sector to an organized framework to enhance farmer incomes, citing the success of the Gujarat cooperative model as a prime example. He also called for expanded use of advanced technologies like sex-sorted semen and urged accelerating vaccination efforts to eliminate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis by 2030, envisioning India as a major milk exporter.

Minister of State Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel lauded the contributions of women and youth in the dairy sector, urging their continued leadership and innovation. He highlighted India’s exceptional annual milk production growth rate of 6%, far surpassing the global average of 2%. Encouraging the adoption of improved breeding technologies like in-vitro fertilization and expanding Artificial Insemination (AI) coverage, Baghel reiterated the importance of achieving FMD-free status for the country.

Minister of State George Kurian underlined the role of dairy cooperatives in empowering rural communities, particularly women, while advocating for enhanced rural veterinary support and infrastructure development. Meanwhile, DAHD Secretary Alka Upadhyaya emphasized scientific interventions, market linkages, and farmer training as essential to sustainable dairy development.

The celebration also featured the release of Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (BAHS) 2024 and the manual Surabhi Shrenkhala, aimed at identifying elite milch animals to enhance genetic potential.

The Amul Clean Fuel Rally, a symbolic event featuring participants from Amul’s member unions, brought energy to the celebration.