Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, inaugurated the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying's pavilion at the World Food India Event 2023 in New Delhi, which took place from November 3 to 5, 2023. This event saw the department's active participation as a partner department, with the Minister for State of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Dr. L. Murugan, also present during the inauguration.
The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, inaugurated the World Food India event on November 3, 2023, with the President of India, Draupadi Murmu, serving as the Chief Guest during the valedictory function. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying's pavilion showcased a wide array of major schemes, programs, new initiatives, and innovative technologies within the livestock and dairy sector.
The pavilion also featured 20 stalls, including the National Dairy Development Board, start-ups, and companies specializing in Animal Husbandry and Dairy. Some of the pavilion's main attractions included a ‘Selfie Point’ and live demonstrations of various innovative products by start-ups and companies. This exhibition underscored the department's unwavering commitment to promoting technological advancements and facilitating the growth and development of the sector.
On the inaugural day of World Food India 2023, Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, took part in a Roundtable discussion. This discussion brought together CEOs representing more than 70 prominent companies operating in the food processing and allied sectors.
On November 4, the department organized a knowledge session entitled ‘Fostering Women Leadership: Advancing equality and empowerment for effective change in animal husbandry & dairy.’ The session aimed to highlight the significance of and the valuable contributions made by women in the food processing industry, particularly in the primary production of milk, meat, and eggs. The knowledge session played a pivotal role in recognizing and encouraging the meaningful participation of women in the development and progress of the sector.
The knowledge session was moderated by Additional Secretary (DAHD), Varsha Joshi, and featured distinguished speakers, including Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Dr. Abhijit Mitra; Dr. Jyothy Mistry from the Food and Agricultural Organization; Principal Scientist at ICAR – Central Institute for Women in Agriculture, Bhubaneswar, Dr. Biswanath Sahoo; Founder of Siddhi Vinayak Poultry Breeding Farm & Hatcheries Private Limited, Dr. Anju Deshpande; Chairperson of Shreeja Milk Producing Company, Shreedevi Kuntapalli; and Pooja Kaul, Founder of Organiko-Beautifying Life.
