Odisha Gears Up for Dairy Revolution: Session Explores Opportunities in Dairy Development and Value Addition

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to foster dairy entrepreneurship and elevate the income of farmers, the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (ARD) Department organized a session on “Enhancing Farmers’ Income through Dairy Development & Value Addition.” This insightful event, part of the Matsya-Pranee Samavesh Odisha-2024 at Janata Maidan, Bhubaneswar, aimed to discuss crucial aspects of dairy development, value addition, and effective marketing strategies to empower dairy communities in the state.

The session featured a panel discussion with industry experts and addressed key technical and business aspects, setting the stage for a transformative dairy entrepreneurship landscape in Odisha.

The discussion aimed at empowering dairy communities and supporting farmers in augmenting their farm income. Various technical and business aspects related to dairy development, value addition, and the marketing of dairy products were explored during the session to catalyze a revolution in Dairy Entrepreneurship in the state.

A panel discussion featured esteemed experts in the field, including Mr. Swapan Sinha (Head – Marketing, NDDB), Dr. Umashankar Mahapatro (Visaka Dairy, Andhra Pradesh), Dr. Mamta Arya (ULDB, Uttarakhand), and Mr. Manas Ranjan Upadhaya (Entrepreneur, Khir Ganga Dairy, Jharsuguda). The session was chaired by Dr. Yeddula Vijay, IAS, Joint Secretary, Science & Tech Dept, and moderated by Dr. Saroj Sahu, GM, SAMUL.

Approximately 250 progressive Dairy Farmers from various districts of the state actively participated in the session. A lively quiz session engaged the audience, and successful respondents were rewarded with delectable OMFED products, adding a sweet, tangy, and dairy thrill to the event.

The session concluded with a resounding affirmation that farmers are the true owners of the OMFED Cooperative Society and a call to embrace new technologies for enhanced profitability.