Anand, 8 November 2014

Shri Radha Mohan Singh, Union Agriculture Minister launched NDDB’s Golden Jubilee Year Celebrations on 8th November 2014 at NDDB, Anand in presence of Shri Babubhai B Bokhiriya, Minister for Agriculture, Cooperation, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries & Cow Breeding, Government of Gujarat and Shri T Nanda Kumar, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

While launching the Golden Jubilee Year Celebrations, Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that India is world’s largest milk producing nation since 1998. Operation Flood (1970-1996), the world’s largest food and development programme, formulated and implemented by NDDB resulted in the phenomenal growth of India’s dairy sector. Today, India’s milk production has touched the 137 million tonnes mark from 20 million tonnes in 1951. This has resulted in rise of per capita milk availability from 120 gm to 300 gm. Livestock sector is an instrument for economic change. The quality of human life and nutrition, particularly in rural areas, is inextricably linked to livestock. Dairying is a means of livelihood for India’s milk producers, who are predominantly smallholder and landless. Milk contributes nearly 67 percent of the value of production of livestock sector. The cost of milk production in India during 2012-13 at current prices was Rs 350 thousand crore. This price is more than the total output value of wheat and rice put together. He spoke on the importance of programmes related to increasing productivity as cattle productivity in India is lower compared to other countries of the world.

Shri Babubhai Bokhiriya appreciated NDDB’s role in strengthening dairy cooperatives. He said that Operation Flood introduced by NDDB made dairying a remunerative occupation for millions of India’s rural poor. He lauded NDDB’s efforts in felicitating the dairy farmers who were associated with the Amul movement since its initial days.

Chairman NDDB, Shri T Nanda Kumar, in his address said, milk cooperatives have played a vital role in the progress of the Indian Dairy Industry. Millions of small farmers have gained the strength to sustain their livelihood while contributing to increased supply of safe milk to consumers. The cooperatives have provided gainful employment to farmers and brought them closer to the market.There are 189 district cooperative milk unions in India, covering about 1.6 lakh villages, reaching out to 15.1 million milk producers of which 4.4 million are women members. Generally, cooperatives give back 75 per cent of the consumer rupee earned to the farmers. He further said that Producer Companies, another form of collective business enterprises owned and controlled by user members, are also being promoted. Shri Nanda Kumar said that NDDB has always encouraged women to play a more visible and active role in dairying. The Dairy Board encourages women to become members and leaders of cooperatives.

NDDB Dairy Excellence Awards

While releasing a brochure on NDDB Dairy Excellence Awards, the Union Agriculture Minister said that with a view to recognise the efforts of producer based organisations and inspire them to sustain their efforts in future, NDDB has decided to institute “NDDB Dairy Excellence Awards” for the best dairy cooperatives for management excellence, value to farmers and social & gender inclusion. The minister said that the award would set benchmarks and help the organisations to adopt best practices and would encourage them to come up with innovative ways to expand their business operations, bringing in improved transparency and efficiency.

The Awards will be conferred on dairy cooperative unions/producer companies under three categories: a) Large organisations: milk procurement more than 5 LLPD, b) Medium organisations: milk procurement between 1 LLPD and 5 LLPD and c) Small organisations: milk procurement less than 1 LLPD. In each category, two organisations will be given cash awards of Rs 5 lakh, and Rs 2 lakh respectively along with a citation. To recognise the role of women in dairying and to increase their participation as members and leaders in dairy cooperatives and to ensure their financial inclusion, two special category awards will be conferred on the dairy cooperative unions. One, for the highest number of women DCS organised and the other for dairy cooperative unions with highest number of functional women members. In each category a cash award of Rs 3 lakh and a citation will be given.

Dairy Knowledge Portal

Shri Babubhai Bokhiriya launched NDDB’s Dairy Knowledge Portal,which would provide dependable and appropriate information for effective decision making. NDDB remains committed to assisting dairy cooperatives to strengthen their business and provide greater market access to small milk producers. Keeping this in view, NDDB’s Dairy Knowledge Portal (www.dairyknowledge.in) would be a single source of all data relevant to key stakeholders and an interactive knowledge repository for all member owned dairy enterprises & institutions. NDDB proposes to invite dairy cooperative institutions, professionals, veterinary and agricultural universities, faculty members, national institutes engaged in research and development, government functionaries and all stakeholders who care to share their knowledge actively.It aims to create a common platform for knowledge sharing on topics related to Animal Breeding, Animal Nutrition, Animal Health and Dairy Technology.