Anand: In an attempt to promote dairy farming in Uttar Pradesh, the Government of Uttar Pradesh has requested National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to manage the Varanasi Milk Union for a period of five years. NDDB has accepted the request of strengthening state’s dairy cooperative business. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed between Govt of Uttar Pradesh, Pradeshik Cooperative Dairy Federation Ltd (PCDF), Varanasi Milk Union and NDDB during a virtual ceremony on 1stNovember 2021.

Shri Lakshmi Narayan Chaudhari, Hon’ble Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development & Fisheries, Govt of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Atul Chaturvedi, Secretary, AHD, Govt of India, Ms Varsha Joshi, Joint Secretary (C&DD), AHD, Govt of India, Shri Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB, Shri Sudhir Garg, Principal Secretary, Dairy Development, Govt of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Bhusan Lal Sushil, Milk Commissioner, Govt of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Ravi Shankar Gupta, In-charge Managing Director, PCDF and Shri Arun Mishra, CEO, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)graced the occasion.

Shri Chaudhari said that in line with our Hon’ble PM’s aim of doubling farmers’ income, this developmental initiative of NDDB will motivate and involve milk producers and provide them the required economic resilience. This MoU will provide milk producers of Uttar Pradesh the essential market access, while broadly keeping in view sustainability and viability of the overall operations. Using biogas to run Varanasi Milk Union’s dairy plant will be a path-breaking innovation. This unique technology-driven initiative, will eventually bring rural prosperity. He appreciated NDDB’s expertise in setting up modern dairy plants across India and making them profitable.

Shri Chaturvedi thanked Uttar Pradesh government for launching this project within a record time. He conveyed that Project Gir has been launched in Uttar Pradesh to fulfill Hon’ble PM’s dream of increasing milk production. Under Rashtriya Gokul Mission, inducted Gir cows will be used to increase productivity through IVF technology and soon Varanasi Milk Union plant will be able to process 2 lakh litres of milk. He further stated that Varanasi Milk Union will be country’s first Milk Union to have biogas-based tri generation plant installed. The plant is expected to suffice entire energy need of the dairy and contribute significantly towards reducing carbon footprint by reducing usage of traditional fuels.

Chairman, NDDB assured necessary support to Varanasi Milk Union so as to enable them better serve their members. He said that Dairy Board’s efforts will be to streamline the governance processes, focus on providing remunerative price to milk producers and ensure that consumers get safe and hygienic liquid milk and milk products.

Ms Joshi mentioned the need for working together to fulfil Hon’ble PM’s vision of enhancing farmers income, empowering women, conserving environment and using apt technology. She said that NDDB’s intervention will bring the much needed transformation of rural households in Uttar Pradesh.