Dairy industry needs to focus on farmers along with consumers: Dr. RS Sodhi
The importance of Dairy and Animal Husbandry in the overall contribution to the agrarian-based rural economy was highlighted by eminent speakers, including Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and President of the Indian Dairy Association Dr. RS Sodhi, at the Golden Jubilee edition of the 50th Dairy Industry Conference in Hyderabad.
Harvir Singh
Hyderabad
The importance of Dairy and Animal Husbandry in the overall contribution to the agrarian-based rural economy was highlighted by eminent speakers, including Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and President of the Indian Dairy Association Dr. RS Sodhi, at the Golden Jubilee edition of the 50th Dairy Industry Conference in Hyderabad.
Vikramarka, in his address, emphasized the role of women in the dairy economy and pointed out that the current Telangana Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanta Reddy is committed to supporting the growth of the Dairy Economy with appropriate schemes.
He took the opportunity to list various schemes of the State Government for the economic uplift of farmers. He fondly remembered the contributions of the former Prime Ministers Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi and recalled their role in the White Revolution. Dr. V. Kurien - the Milkman of India - was remembered with gratitude.
Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao declared the Dairy Expo open and visited the various stalls at the Expo. He emphasized the importance of the Dairy Economy in supporting the overall Agriculture Economy and the flow of daily cash to the dairy farmers of the country.
Dr. Sodhi in his Presidential address detailed the contribution of the dairy sector not only to the rural economy but also in ensuring nutritional security. He opined that with proper stimulus and encouragement, India has the potential to become the Milk Bowl of the World. India has been the largest Milk Producer in the World for the past two decades and continues to grow at 4.5% compared to the growth in world milk production at 2%, he said.
Meenesh Shah, Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board in his keynote address listed various innovative approaches being initiated to improve the efficiency in the supply chain. He emphasized the steps being initiated to mitigate the negative impact on the environment due to the dairy development and the strategies to be adopted to grow without any deleterious effects on the environment.
Dr.Dheer Singh, Director & Vice Chancellor of the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, listed the contribution of NDRI through its 100-year journey and appropriate technologies being developed at the Institute. The Chairman of Indian Dairy Association Dr.Satish Kulkarni, welcomed the gathering, and Dr.Subash, Secretary proposed the vote of thanks. Mr.CP Charles Secretary General of the 50th DIC explained the details of the Conference.
The conference, being held at the HiTex Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad, is being participated by 2,500 delegates from all over India and nearly participants from 30 other countries. The Dairy Expo is one of the largest spread over 11,000 sq. meters
On the occasion, awards were given to select dairymen across the country for their contributions to Indian dairying. The maiden Lifetime Achievement award went to RG Chandramohan, who is the head of Hatson Agro Product Ltd, the largest private dairy company in the country, for his contribution to the Dairy Industry. Ajay Khosla and Dr.C.S.Prasad, were decorated with the Patron Award of the association, while Dr. K.S.Ramachandra, R.C.Chugh, Aditya Jain and Rakesh Saxena were selected as Fellow of the Association.
