PM Modi says country is building largest database of dairy animals; foot, mouth disease vaccination to be provided to all dairy animals by 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the country is building the largest database of dairy animals and every animal associated with the dairy sector is being tagged.

Inaugurating the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit 2022, in  Greater Noida, Mr. Modi said that India’s dairy sector is recognised for production by masses rather than mass production.

He said, India has become the largest producer of dairy products in the world due to the collective efforts of small-scale dairy farmers.  

He said, in 2014, India produced 146 million tonnes of milk and now it has increased to 210 million tonnes, which is an increase of about 44 percent.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi says the country is building the largest database of dairy animals ;

The Prime Minister said, the potential of the dairy sector not only gives impetus to the rural economy, but it is also a major source of livelihood for crores of people across the world.

He said, unlike other developed countries of the world, in India the driving force of the dairy sector are the small farmers. Mr Modi highlighted that Government’s focus is to develop a balanced dairy ecosystem.  

Mr Modi said, the digital revolution witnessed in India has also reached the dairy sector. He said, digital payment system developed for India’s dairy sector can help farmers across the world.

The Prime Minister said,  India is engaged in developing technologies of biometric authentication of the dairy animals namely Pashu-Aadhaar to enhance the production in the dairy sector.

He said, in the last few years, Lumpy skin disease has been a threat to the cattle and a vaccine has been prepared for this disease indigenously, to safeguard their lives.

Mr Modi said, plastic has become a menace for the cattle and Government is committed to remove single-use plastic. He said, by 2025, foot and mouth disease vaccination will be provided to all dairy animals.

The Prime Minister said, monoculture is not the only solution in farming and there is a need for diversity. He added that this also applies to animal husbandry.

The Prime Minister said, that’s why today in India, attention is being paid to both indigenous breeds and hybrid breeds. He said, Gobar Dhan yojana is an example of dairy sector development.

The four-day long summit is a congregation of global and Indian dairy stakeholders including industry leaders, experts, farmers and policy planners centring around the theme of ‘Dairy for Nutrition and Livelihood. Around 1500 participants from 50 countries are participating in the Summit.  

The last such Summit was held in India about half a century ago in 1974. The Indian dairy industry is unique in the sense that it is based on a cooperative model that empowers small and marginal dairy farmers, especially women.  

The government has taken multiple steps for the betterment of the dairy sector resulting in an increase of milk production by more than 44 percent in the last eight years.

The success story of the Indian dairy industry, accounting for about 23 per cent of the global milk, producing around 210 million tonnes annually and empowering more than 8 crore dairy farmers, will be showcased at the Summit.

Talking exclusively to AIR News, Amit Vyas, Managing Director of Amul Dairy in Anand, Gujarat said, the Summit is about sharing of best practices on dairy, emerging technologies in the sector and how can empower people through dairy and improve their economic condition.

Talking to AIR News, Laxmi Chaubisa a dairy farmer from Udaipur, Rajasthan said, the ideas shared will help her and make her self-reliant Atmanirbhar.