Addressing more than 1 lakh dairy farmers across the state at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on the occasion of GCMMF’s golden jubilee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the seeds planted by the dairy farmers of Gujarat 50 years ago have flourished. Now it has become a tree, whose branches have spread across the country and the world.
“Amul is the eighth largest dairy company in the world. You should aspire to make it the largest dairy organization in the world. You will get the full support of the government,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while addressing the farmers.
The Prime Minister said that globally the dairy sector is growing at a rate of only 2 per cent, while in India this growth is 6 per cent. He said that milk production in the country has increased by 60% in the last 10 years while per capita availability of milk has increased by 40%.
He also said that the dairy sector has an important role to play in meeting the nutritional needs of the growing population. The Prime Minister said that many brands were created after India’s independence but none like Amul.
He called Amul a symbol of dairy farmers’ efforts and cooperation and an inspiration for a self-reliant India.
The Prime Minister said that an organization of small farmers is doing great work. This is the power of unity and cooperation.
Amul is an example of how decisions taken with a long-term vision benefit future generations, recalling the role of women in economic development, the Prime Minister said the Rs 10 lakh crore dairy cooperative sector has a major role in women’s economic empowerment and his government is also committed.
He also inaugurated several dairy projects worth more than 1000 crores. Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel said in his address that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi, the dairy cooperative sector has emerged as a model of development. In the last 20 years, the number of milk unions in the state has increased from 12 to 23. India is moving towards becoming a dairy for the world in Amrit Kal.
The Chief Minister also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure has been one of performance, reform and transformation.
On this occasion, Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Parshottam Rupala, Governor Acharya Devvrat, Lok Sabha MP CR. Patil, Gujarat Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary, Gujarat Assembly Deputy Speaker Jethabhai Ahir and Minister of State for Cooperation and Industries Jagdish Vishwakarma were also present.
GCMMF came into being on July 9, 1973. Currently, GCMMF has 18 member unions with over 36 lakh farmers
in 18,600 villages in Gujarat. The member dairies of the federation purchase more than 3 million liters of milk per day.
Over the past 50 years, GCMMF has been successful in working on its principle of being a bridge between dairy farmers and consumers and has played an important role in making India the world’s largest producer of milk, accounting for 24% of global milk production.
With an annual group turnover of Rs 72,000 crore, GCMMF is the 8th largest dairy organization in the world. Amul is the largest farmer-owned dairy brand globally, exporting products to more than 50 countries.
Besides the women dairy farmers, the event saw the presence of state Governor, Gujarat Chief Minister, Union Minister Parshottam Rupala and many others. Several cooperators were also present on the occasion.
The iconic stadium was also a sight for captivating cultural events which included a beautiful dance by women dairy farmers in the well of the stadium.
