New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set two key goals for India’s future—becoming the third-largest economy and achieving full development by 2047, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah announced on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference, Shah emphasized the vital role of the dairy sector in achieving these goals. He said dairy farming is essential for boosting rural prosperity, uplifting landless and small farmers, and ensuring proper nutrition for the country.
Dairy Sector: A Backbone for Rural India
Shah highlighted that India’s agriculture is centered around small farmers, making dairy farming a crucial industry for economic growth. He pointed out that there are limited alternatives to dairy, making it necessary to explore all possible opportunities in the sector.
Over the past ten years, the government has promoted modern farming techniques, expanded cooperatives, and encouraged farmers to compete globally. “The confidence to succeed as a group is rising through cooperatives, and the entire farm-to-factory chain should remain within rural areas,” Shah said.
Three Pillars of Growth: Power, Cooperation, and Prosperity
Amit Shah outlined three guiding principles for India’s development:
Power from the Government
Cooperation from the Government
Prosperity from the Government
He emphasized that while cooperatives focus on profit, their primary goal should be people’s welfare. He also launched new NDDB schemes for financial aid in small biogas, large biogas, and compressed biogas projects to promote sustainable dairy farming.
Expanding Biogas Projects Nationwide
Shah stressed the need for biogas production in every milk-producing district. He proposed:
✅ Pilot schemes in selected districts within six months
✅ Gas production models tailored to different regions
✅ A time-bound plan to expand biogas projects to all 250 district milk-producing associations in the next two years
He urged NDDB and NABARD to work together—NDDB to handle logistics and NABARD to create financing plans. He insisted that no district with a milk producers’ association should be without a biogas project that benefits local farmers.
Strengthening the Cooperative Network
Shah stressed the need to improve animal health and nutrition across India, even for farmers who supply milk to private dairies. He pointed to Gujarat’s success, where:
✅ Micro ATMs were installed in rural dairies in Banaskantha and Panchmahal
✅ Cooperative sector deposits increased by ₹7,700 crores
✅ 93% of Gujarat’s cooperatives now hold accounts in cooperative banks, ensuring lower interest rates
Shah urged NABARD to expand this model nationwide, ensuring that cooperative banking remains a pillar of India’s economic strength.
‘Make in India’ for Dairy Equipment
Shah also stressed the need to manufacture all dairy-related machinery in India. He insisted that:
🚫 No dairy equipment should be imported
✅ NDDB must ensure that machinery production is handled by Indian cooperatives
✅ District milk unions should be stakeholders in these ventures, ensuring profits go back to the cooperative sector
The Road Ahead
Shah reaffirmed that cooperation among cooperatives is the key to 100% circular economic growth. He urged dairy producers to adopt sustainable models that promote self-sufficiency and profitability.
With stronger cooperatives, sustainable farming, and self-reliant manufacturing, India is moving steadily toward becoming a global economic powerhouse.
