Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated a new dairy hub and potato processing plant to the country on Tuesday in Diyodar, Gujarat's Banaskantha district, which was built at a cost of about 610 crore by Banas Dairy.
"Banas Dairy has established a new economic force in the nation," the Prime Minister remarked, adding that the company's development activities will empower farmers and enhance the rural economy. Here, we can see how a cooperative movement might help our Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign gain traction."
He also established the groundwork for a number of district initiatives, including a biogas plant and community radio. Local farmers are anticipated to benefit from these projects, which are projected to enhance the region's agricultural economy.
"Today, India is the world's leading milk producer. When crores of farmers rely on milk for their livelihood, India produces milk worth 8.5 lakh crore yearly, which "many people, even large economists, do not pay attention to," he remarked after the inauguration.
The Banas Dairy initiative, according to PM Modi, is assisting farmers and cattle-raising communities across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Odisha (Somnath to Jagannath), Andhra Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
He claims that, in comparison to conventional food grains, dairy is developing as a viable source of income for farmers, particularly in areas where landholdings are limited and circumstances are difficult.
"It's an illustration of how a village's decentralized economy operates." Wheat and rice have a turnover of less than 8.5 lakh crore in comparison to the dairy industry. "The dairy sector benefits small farmers the most," Prime Minister Modi stated.
In response to a question on direct benefit transfer (DBT) to farmer accounts, he stated that government benefits are now reaching recipients directly, as opposed to "a former prime minister's time when just 15 paise of a rupee reached the beneficiary."
The new dairy complex has the capacity to process 30 lakh litres of milk per day, create 80 tonnes of butter, one lakh litres of ice cream, 20 tonnes of condensed milk (khoya), and 6 tonnes of chocolates.
The potato processing factory will manufacture a variety of processed potato goods, including French fries, potato chips, 'aloo tikki,' patty, and more, with many of them being exported.
PM Modi also dedicated the Banas Community Radio Station, which was established to assist farmers with important scientific knowledge on agricultural and animal husbandry. It aims to link roughly 1,700 villages and over 5 lakh farmers.
In addition, at the Banas dairy facility in Palanpur, the Prime Minister improved the facilities for the manufacturing of cheese products and whey powder. He also inaugurated a biogas and organic manure plant in Dama.
At Khimana, Ratanpura–Bhildi, Radhanpur, and Thawar, the Prime Minister also lay the foundation stones for four 100-tonne 'gobar gas' facilities.
PM Modi is on a three-day visit to his home state from April 18-20.
The Prime Minister will attend the Global AYUSH Investment and Innovation Summit in Gandhinagar on Wednesday before attending the Adijati Maha Sammelan in Dahod and launching further development projects.
