Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah lauded Gujarat’s Dudhsagar Dairy for its remarkable contribution to the country’s dairy revolution, calling it a model of cooperative success and rural empowerment. Speaking virtually at the inauguration of the Shri Motibhai R. Chaudhary Sagar Sainik School (MRCSSS) and Sagar Organic Plant in Gujarat, Shah said Dudhsagar Dairy’s growth exemplifies the power of cooperative spirit and farmer participation.
Tracing its journey, Shah recalled that Dudhsagar Dairy collected just 3,300 litres of milk daily in 1960. Today, that figure has risen to an impressive 35 lakh litres per day. The dairy now connects with cattle rearers from 1,250 villages in Gujarat and over 10 lakh milk production groups spread across Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. With a turnover touching Rs 8,000 crore, the cooperative operates eight modern dairies, two chilling centres, two cattle feed plants, and even a cement unit-showcasing how cooperatives can drive inclusive development.
Shah said Banaskantha and Dudhsagar Dairy together have provided an inspiring model of how cooperatives can transform the dairy economy and strengthen India’s white revolution. He emphasised that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahakar se Samriddhi,” 75,000 new primary dairy cooperatives are being formed nationwide to expand the cooperative ecosystem.
Highlighting government efforts to promote a circular economy in the dairy sector, Shah said three new multi-state cooperative societies have been established to ensure that cattle rearers benefit directly. He said the Modi government is working to ensure that 50 per cent of milk produced by cooperative societies reaches national and global markets, creating new income avenues for farmers.
The Union Minister also inaugurated the Sagar Organic Plant, which he described as a major step toward promoting natural farming and healthy living. With a capacity of 30 metric tons per day, the plant is certified under the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) and the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). Shah said the certification will enable North Gujarat’s farmers to access international markets, ensuring fair prices for their organic produce under the Amul brand.
He urged farmers engaged in organic cultivation to consume organic products themselves so that their families remain healthy. The expansion of such organic initiatives, he said, will strengthen rural economies and improve public health across India.
Praising the role of women in the cooperative movement, Shah noted that nearly 70 per cent of Amul’s turnover comes from the contribution of women dairy farmers, who have become self-reliant through cooperative participation.
Acknowledging the recent unseasonal rains in Gujarat, Shah commended the Bhupendra Patel-led state government for promptly announcing a generous relief package to assist affected farmers, reaffirming its commitment to stand by the rural community.
Concluding his address, Shah also expressed condolences over the recent car explosion in Delhi, asserting that Prime Minister Modi’s government will ensure the strictest punishment for those behind the attack, sending a strong message against terrorism.
