Gandhinagar, May 17: Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a newly constructed automatic milk processing plant in Dashela, Gandhinagar, on Sunday. The event was marked by a warm welcome from local dairy farmers.
During his address, Shah highlighted that the plant, built on 15 acres of land at a cost of ₹128 crores, will serve as a foundation for the economic upliftment of farmers. This facility has the capacity to process 250,000 liters of milk daily, with plans to increase this to 500,000 liters in the future. Approximately 75% of the profits after operational costs will be directly deposited into the farmers’ bank accounts.
Shah emphasized the dairy sector as a significant avenue for women’s empowerment. He noted that in Gujarat, 3.6 million women farmers collect 30 million liters of milk daily, resulting in nearly ₹20 billion being deposited into their accounts each day. He shared personal anecdotes about how women who were once economically dependent have now become ‘home entrepreneurs’ due to the dairy sector.
The minister stated that the goal is to increase farmers’ income by at least 20% through promoting a circular economy in the dairy sector. He cited the growing trust in Amul products, mentioning that Amul’s sugar-free chocolate ranks first in its category, benefiting farmers directly.
Shah outlined the ambitious target of tripling the country’s total milk production over the next decade under the White Revolution 2.0 initiative. He praised Amul for enhancing farmers’ profits through technology and mentioned the recently launched digital assistant ‘Saralaben,’ which aids rural women in animal husbandry and agriculture.
He commended Madhur Dairy for continuing the legacy of leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. Verghese Kurien. What began in 1971 with just four cooperatives and 6,000 liters of milk collection has now grown to an annual turnover of ₹2.68 billion.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel remarked that Gujarat has a long-standing tradition of cooperation. He noted that Prime Minister Modi has charted a new course for cooperative development, aligning it with the changing landscape of the economy.
The CM recalled the historical significance of Madhur Dairy, which started with a few dairy cooperatives and has become an integral part of Gandhinagar’s daily life, with residents enjoying tea made from Madhur milk every morning.
He also highlighted the cooperative society of milk consumers in Gandhinagar, which has been operational for fifty years, serving 15,000 members through 230 distribution centers.
The CM celebrated this event as a festival of development revolution under the guidance of the Home Minister, congratulating the Madhur Dairy family for reaching new heights in the dairy sector.
He concluded by illustrating how Amit Shah exemplifies organizational strength and public trust, as demonstrated by the recent election results in West Bengal.
The event began with a welcome address by Madhur Dairy Chairman Shankarsinh Rana, who provided an overview of the dairy’s background. Notable attendees included Amul Federation Chairman Ashok Bhai Chaudhary, Nafed Chairman Jethabhai Ahir, and several local legislators and cooperative leaders.
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