Anand, 19 April 2012

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today asked the Centre to evolve a scientific Grassland and Grass Bank Policy to provide nutritious fodder to disease-free livestock with a view to increasing milk productivity and production.

He said that Gujarat’s leadership in India’s White Revolution is widely recognized, but India lagged behind in milk productivity due to several socio-economic factors. However, he regretted that the Centre is keen to promote ‘Pink Policy’ (by providing subsidy for mutton export) rather than ‘White Revolution’. This could result in threat to a predominantly agrarian economy like that of India.

Mr. Modi was speaking as the chief guest at a function to launch Rs.2,242-crore National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) National Dairy Plan, called ‘Mission Milk’ by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar at Anand.

The Chief Minister said that Gujarat holds as many as 27,000 cattle medical camps in the state every year which has resulted in permanent eradication of 117 cattle diseases. He said that Gujarat has set up a Kamdhenu University to create awareness about enriched fodder in cattle rearing among cattle owners. He called for human resources development in the dairy sector. He said that Gujarat Government paid equal importance to agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry.

Inaugurating the Mission Milk, Mr. Sharad Pawar said that India has emerged as the largest producer of milk in the world due to White Revolution. India also witnessed Green Revolution. Now it is around time to launch phase-2 of both the revolutions to meet the needs of growing population. Eastern States can play a vital role in this direction. The nation can take a cue from Gujarat’s success in women’s empowerment in dairy sector.

Referring to glut in cotton the Union Agriculture Minister said that farmers deserve the remunerative price and should be allowed to export surplus stock after meeting the nation’s need. He assured of a solution within a week.

Talking about the contentious issue of raising the height of SSP dam on the Narmada to 138 metres, Mr. Pawar said that the Centre should thrash out the obstacles in consultation with Gujarat, necessary for the development of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Mr. Pawar said that there is need to bring changes in the laws related to cooperative sector. He hoped that all the States will move ahead in this direction and Gujarat will show a new path to the nation by taking a front position.

Union Minister of State for Agriculture Charandas Mahant said the Central government has decided to launch the second phase of white revolution and as a part of it the National Dairy Plan has been dedicated to the nation today. The milk prices have increased by 90% during last five years because of the increased value of milk. The National Dairy Plan seeks to solve this issue also.

The Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Ministers of Karnatak, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Panjab, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, Chairmen of the State’s milk producing associations, office bearers of the organizations such as NDDB, IRMA and Gujarat State Milk Marketing Federation, Secretaries and senior officials, district collector Mrs.Avantika Singh, District police chief Rajendra Asari and District Development Officer K.K.Nirala was also present on the occasion.