Himmatnagar: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today inaugurated a cutting-edge cattle feed plant with a production capacity of 800 metric tons per day at Himmatnagar in Sabarkantha district. The event, attended by dignitaries including Gujarat Legislative Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, marked another milestone in Gujarat’s thriving cooperative dairy movement.
In his address, Shah lauded the evolution of Sabar Dairy from a small initiative to a vital livelihood source for over 3.5 lakh families. Highlighting the transformative impact of the dairy cooperative, he shared stories of women associated with animal husbandry who now live with dignity thanks to the dairy’s success.
Shah celebrated two cooperatives recognized for their exceptional performance in milk production, noting that some have earned over ₹1 crore from milk trade. He credited the cooperative dairy movement, led by Amul’s White Revolution, for empowering women, fostering village prosperity, and improving nutrition across the nation.
The ₹210 crore animal feed plant inaugurated at Sabarkantha Dairy reflects these efforts.Shri Shah noted that Sabarkantha Dairy, established in 1976, has achieved an impressive production capacity of 2,050 metric tons of animal feed.
Shah highlighted India’s rise in milk production, from 40 kilograms per person annually in 1970 to 167 kilograms in 2023, positioning the nation as a global leader in per capita milk production.
Encouraging farmers to adopt natural farming, Shah emphasized its potential to boost income and improve health. He noted its role in combating diseases such as cancer and diabetes while enriching soil fertility through earthworm activity and eliminating the need for pesticides.
The Minister shared that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has introduced initiatives like the National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL) and the National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL) to support farmers practicing natural farming by ensuring fair prices and promoting exports.
While acknowledging that yields might initially decline, Shah assured farmers that profits would increase in subsequent years. He emphasized the importance of incorporating natural farming into dairy sector training programs.
Shah praised the implementation of the Gobardhan Yojana in Gujarat, where manure from livestock is used to enrich soil quality. He drew parallels between the early days of the cooperative movement and the potential of natural farming, envisioning a ₹10 lakh crore global market for Indian farmers in the future.
Later in the day, Shah inaugurated the Fila Vista-2024 Stamp Exhibition in Gandhinagar and paid homage to the leaders of the Dandi March at the Dandi Kutir Museum. He also unveiled the Shela Lake and Park in Sanand, furthering efforts to promote environmental conservation and cultural heritage.
The inauguration of the Himmatnagar cattle feed plant and the Minister’s vision for natural farming underscore the government’s commitment to fostering rural prosperity and sustainable agriculture while reinforcing India’s leadership in the cooperative sector.