Dairy cooperative in India is unique in the whole world and can be a good business model for poor countries: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, “The potential of the dairy sector not only gives impetus to the rural economy but is also a major source of livelihood for crores of people across the world.” He added that India's dairy sector was characterized by "production by masses" more than "mass production". India is the largest milk-producing country on the basis of the efforts of these small farmers with one, two or three cattle. The Prime Minister said these while addressing a gathering of domestic and international participants from the dairy sector on the occasion of inaugurating the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit (IDF WDS) 2022 organized at India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida. The Prime Minister said that the World Dairy Summit is going to be a great medium for the exchange of ideas.

The four-day-long IDF WDS 2022, held from 12th to 15th September, is a congregation of global and Indian dairy stakeholders including industry leaders, experts, farmers and policy planners. The last such Summit was held in India about half a century ago in 1974.

Underlining the centrality of ‘Pashu Dhan’ and milk-related business in the cultural landscape of India, the Prime Minister said that this had given the dairy sector of India many unique characteristics and that the driving force of the dairy sector in India was small farmers. So, India's dairy sector is characterized by "production by masses" more than "mass production". This sector provides employment to more than 8 crore families in the country.

Explaining the second unique characteristic of the Indian dairy system, the Prime Minister reiterated that there was such a huge network of Dairy Cooperative in India and one cannot find such an example in the whole world elsewhere. Modi said that these dairy cooperatives collect milk twice a day from about two crore farmers in more than two lakh villages in the country and deliver it to the customers. The Prime Minister drew everyone’s attention to the fact that there is no middleman in the entire process, and more than 70 per cent of the money that is received from the customers goes directly into the pockets of the farmers. “No other country has this ratio in the whole world,” the Prime Minister added. He also underlined the efficiency of the digital system of payment in the dairy sector and said that it has many lessons for other countries.

Another unique feature, according to the Prime Minister, is the indigenous breeds that can withstand many adverse circumstances. He gave the example of the sturdy buffalo breed of Banni Buffalo of the Kutch region of Gujarat. He also talked about other buffalo breeds such as Murrah, Mehsana, Jafrabadi, Nili Ravi, and Pandharpuri; among the cow breeds, he mentioned Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Kankrej, Tharparker and Haryana.

Speaking about the role of women in the dairy sector, Prime Minister Modi said that women had a 70 per cent representation in the workforce in India's dairy sector. “Women are the real leaders of India's dairy sector,” he added, “Not only this, more than a third of the members of dairy cooperatives in India are women.” He said that at more than 8.5 lakh crore rupees, the dairy sector was more than the combined value of wheat and rice. This is all driven by the women power of India.

“India produced 146mn tonnes of milk in 2014. It has now increased to 210mn tonnes. That is, an increase of about 44 per cent,” the Prime Minister pointed out. He also mentioned that as compared to the 2 per cent production growth at the global level, India was clocking the milk production growth rate at more than 6 per cent.

The Prime Minister said that the government was working on developing a balanced dairy ecosystem where challenges of the sectors are being addressed along with a focus on increasing production. Extra income for the farmers, empowerment of the poor, swachhta (cleanliness), chemical-free farming, clean energy and care of the cattle are interlinked in this ecosystem. He stressed that animal husbandry and dairy were being promoted as a powerful medium of green and sustainable growth in the villages. Schemes like Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Gobardhan Yojna, digitization of the dairy sector and universal vaccination of cattle along with steps like banning single-use plastic, are steps in that direction.

Prime Minister Modi said that India was building the largest database of dairy animals through ‘Pashu Adhar’ for biometric identification that would also give the data for their health and productivity. Besides, he said, “We have resolved that by 2025, we will vaccinate 100 per cent of the animals against Foot and Mouth Disease and Brucellosis. We are aiming to be completely free from these diseases by the end of this decade.”  The Prime Minister observed that there had been a loss of livestock in many states of India due to Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in the recent past. He assured everyone that the central government, along with various state governments, was trying its level best to keep a check on it. “Our scientists have also prepared (an) indigenous vaccine (Lumpi ProVacInd) for Lumpy Skin Disease”, the Prime Minister added.

Besides, mentioning development models such as Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), women self-help groups, and agri start-ups in the dairy sector, Modi said that these would strengthen the rural and agricultural economy. He said that the sector had seen more than 1000 start-ups in recent times.

“I invite the global leaders of the dairy industry to join the drive to empower the dairy sector in India. I also appreciate the International Dairy Federation for their excellent work and contribution”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr L Murugan, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, IDF President P Brazzale, and IDF Director General Caroline Emond were among those present on the occasion.