Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) in Ahmedabad, highlighted the significant growth of India's dairy sector. He stated that the sector's turnover has surpassed ₹10 lakh crore. Modi also emphasized that India's dairy sector is expanding at a rate of 6% annually, outpacing the global dairy sector's growth rate of 2%.
The Prime Minister inaugurated five dairy projects in Gujarat, collectively valued at over ₹1,200 crore. These projects include a dairy plant being established at Navi Mumbai by Bharuch Dairy. He praised the role of women in driving the dairy sector and noted that the cumulative production turnover of wheat, paddy, and sugarcane does not match the ₹10 lakh crore turnover of the dairy sector. Modi urged Amul, which plans to double its processing capacities in the next five years, to aim for becoming the world's largest dairy company.
Modi underscored that India is the leading milk producer globally, with approximately 8 crore people directly involved in the dairy sector. He noted a 60% increase in milk production and a 40% rise in per capita milk availability in the country over the past decade. The Prime Minister also mentioned the government's goal to eliminate foot-and-mouth disease by 2030 and highlighted recent cabinet decisions to support the livestock sector, including initiatives to protect indigenous cattle breeds, convert barren land into pastures, and reduce insurance premiums for cattle. These measures aim to boost cattle numbers and improve the income of cattle-rearers.