Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, inaugurated the ‘Workshop on Sustainability and Circularity in Dairy Sector’ in New Delhi on March 2, 2025. The event highlighted the importance of sustainability, resource efficiency, and circularity in the dairy industry, aiming to contribute to the realization of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi.’
In his address, Amit Shah emphasized the significance of sustainability as India embarks on White Revolution 2.0. He noted that, while much has been achieved through the first White Revolution, the goals of sustainability and circularity are yet to be fully realized in the dairy sector. He underscored that the primary aim of White Revolution 2.0 is to focus on these two crucial aspects from the very outset.
Shah acknowledged the vital role of India’s dairy sector in the country’s economy and rural development. He highlighted that the sector has not only ensured the nation's nutritional needs but has also made India the world's largest milk producer. Additionally, the dairy industry has provided an alternative source of income for farmers, contributing significantly to their prosperity.
The Union Minister of Cooperation outlined the three major goals set by Prime Minister Modi: to transform India into a 5 trillion-dollar economy, to become the third-largest economy globally, and to establish the country as a fully developed nation by 2047. He emphasized that achieving these goals requires exploring and optimizing every sector, including dairy. He also praised the dairy sector’s initiative to promote best practices of circularity among 250 milk producer associations.
Shah pointed out that India’s agricultural system primarily relies on small farmers, and addressing rural migration is essential for their welfare. Dairy farming, he noted, offers an effective solution to uplift small farmers and halt the trend of rural depopulation. He expressed hope that the workshop would foster a holistic approach to fully harness the potential of the dairy sector.
Reflecting on the achievements of the past decade under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, Shah commended the efforts to boost agriculture, giving farmers more confidence and resources to thrive. He emphasized the importance of building farm-to-factory chains within villages to help marginal farmers thrive globally through cooperative efforts.
The Minister also touched on the goal of ensuring that cooperatives serve the dual purpose of generating profit and prioritizing people’s welfare. He spoke about initiatives such as the release of a “Margdarshika” on circularity in the dairy sector, NDDB’s schemes for financial assistance to dairy projects, and the launch of the NDDB-Sustain Plus project.
Shah advocated for expanding cooperative outreach to include farmers who currently supply milk to private dairies, proposing that cooperative sectors manage their organic manure. This strategy, he said, could resolve viability challenges and help draw farmers back into the cooperative fold. Additionally, he suggested replicating successful gas production models across 250 district milk unions within two years.
Highlighting a significant initiative in Gujarat, the Minister praised the state’s success with the “Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives” program, which has facilitated the opening of cooperative bank accounts for 93% of local institutions, strengthening financial resources for cooperatives. He encouraged NABARD to extend this model to other districts across the country.
Shah also pointed to the need for India to manufacture all necessary dairy equipment locally, including machinery for fat measurement and dairy products, and incorporate carbon credits into the system to benefit farmers. He noted that the cooperative dairy sector provides substantial employment, particularly for women, with 72% of its workforce being female.
