Anand, 8th 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 BabubhaiBokhiriya 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 BabubhaiBokhiriya 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 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.