Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that milk production in India is worth Rs 8.5 lakh crore per year, more than the turnover of wheat and rice , with small farmers benefiting the most from the dairy sector.
“Today, India is the world’s largest producer of milk. When the livelihood of crores of farmers depend on milk, India produces milk worth Rs 8.5 lakh crore annually, something that many people, including big economists, do not pay attention to,” the prime minister said while addressing a gathering at Diyodar in the Banaskantha district after inaugurating a new dairy complex and a potato processing plant of the Banas Dairy.
“Decentralised economy system of villages is an example of this. As against this, even the turnover of wheat and rice is not equal to Rs 8.5 lakh crore. And small farmers are the biggest beneficiaries of the dairy sector,” he said.
The new dairy complex and the potato processing plant of Banas Dairy are aimed at empowering local farmers and enhancing the region’s rural economy.
The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the Banas Community Radio Station and expanded facilities for the production of cheese products and whey powder in Palanpur, as well as an organic manure and biogas plant in Dama.