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Time of India
6 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Shah to lay foundation stone of Tribhuvan Cooperative University on July 5
Gandhinagar: Chief minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a high-level meeting to review various programmes being organised as part of the International Cooperation Year, 2025. He also discussed preparations for various programmes organised during the visit of Union cooperation minister Amit Shah on July 5 and 6. Shah will be present in Anand on July 5 and 6, and apart from laying the foundation of the Tribhuvan Cooperative University, he will participate in other programmes related to the cooperative sector. Upcoming programmes under International Cooperation Year were finalised at the meeting, an official statement said. A cooperative dialogue will also be held in Ahmedabad, and cooperative leaders from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan will participate in this dialogue programme. On July 6, Shah is scheduled to inaugurate new projects of NDDB and Amul in Anand, the statement said. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Govt making dairy sector self-reliant, profitable for farmers, says Yogi
1 2 Lucknow: The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will operate three dairy plants and an animal feed production plant in the state to increase profitability. An MoU in this connection was signed between NDDB and state govt's Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Dairy Federation (PCDF) for the operation of dairy plants in Kanpur, Gorakhpur, and Kannauj, along with animal feed production facility in Ambedkarnagar. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath blamed previous govts for sidelining sectors like dairy, leading to huge losses for farmers. "Through measures like this MoU and promotion of dairy cooperatives, the sector is witnessing a massive revival," he said. "UP govt is working with full dedication to make the state's dairy sector self-reliant, technologically equipped, and profitable for farmers," he said. "With NDDB taking charge of these facilities, new standards of efficiency, transparency, and professionalism will be established. Farmers will also benefit from timely payments, better prices, and stable marketing channels, creating a sustainable and thriving dairy ecosystem across the state," the CM added. "Once the management of the units is handed over to an experienced institution like NDDB, it benefits in terms of technical skill and transparency. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The dairy sector is being used to boost women's empowerment," he said, citing the example of Balini Milk Producer Company in Jhansi and other districts like Agra and Gorakhpur. Urging PCDF to adopt NDDB's best practices, Yogi said that the partnership would steer UP's dairy sector towards a more progressive and efficient future. "The Kanpur dairy plant, built at a cost of Rs 160.84 crore, has a processing capacity of 4 lakh litres per day. The Gorakhpur and Kannauj plants, constructed at a cost of Rs 61.8 crore and Rs 88 crore, respectively, each have a daily capacity of 1 lakh litres. Although these plants were completed earlier, they remained underutilised due to the absence of commercial buyers and high operating costs," a PCDF official said. The Ambedkarnagar-based central animal feed manufacturing unit was built at a cost of Rs 18.44 crore and currently produces 100 tonnes of bypass protein feed per day, helping farmers across the state access balanced and affordable cattle feed. This financial year, the unit is estimated to earn a profit of Rs 66.88 lakh. "By handing over the operations of these units to NDDB, important benefits will be ensured, including timely payments to farmers, active participation of local cooperative societies, planned use of resources, proper maintenance of equipment, and reduction of unnecessary expenses. Under this model, there will be no extra financial burden on the state govt, and the revenue will be equally shared between the state and the farmers," the official added.
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Dairy Federation, Development Board ink pact for operation of 3 dairy plants in UP
The Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Dairy Federation (PCDF) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for the operation of three dairy plants in Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Kannauj, along with a animal feed production facility in Ambedkar Nagar. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was present during the function. The government said that with NDDB taking charge of these facilities, new standards of efficiency, transparency and professionalism would be established. Farmers will also benefit from timely payments, better prices and stable marketing channels. Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that by handing over the management to an experienced and capable institution like the NDDB, these units will improve in terms of technical skill, transparency, and direct benefits for farmers. He added that if Uttar Pradesh's huge potential in livestock and milk production is developed in a planned and scientific way, the state can not only become the top milk producer in the country but also make its mark globally. The MoU with NDDB is an important, practical and forward-looking step in that direction. CM Adityanath also highlighted that dairy development in Uttar Pradesh has given fresh impetus to women's empowerment. He mentioned the role of women in places like Balini Milk Producer Company in Jhansi and other districts like Agra and Gorakhpur and praised NDDB's support in making this happen. He noted that even though the state had great potential in farming and animal husbandry, previous governments had ignored this sector due to a lack of vision and proper policies. This left farmers disappointed and reduced the state's valuable livestock. The Chief Minister urged PCDF to adopt NDDB's best practices, emphasizing that the partnership will steer Uttar Pradesh's dairy sector toward a more progressive and efficient future. Chairman NDDB, Meenesh Shah, expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for his support during the successful organisation of the World Dairy Summit 2022 in Noida. He also updated the gathering on the latest progress of NDDB's dairy development projects in Uttar Pradesh. He assured that the three dairy plants and one animal feed unit handed over to NDDB would soon emerge as model and profit-making units in the state. The Principal Secretary of the Dairy Development Department informed that the Kanpur dairy plant, built at a cost of Rs 160.84 crore, has a processing capacity of 4 lakh litres per day. The Gorakhpur and Kannauj plants, constructed at Rs 61.80 crore and Rs 88.05 crore respectively, each have a daily capacity of 1 lakh litres. Although these plants were completed earlier, they remained underutilized due to the absence of commercial buyers and high operating costs. With NDDB now taking over operations, all three units are expected to function at full capacity. Also, the Ambedkar Nagar-based central animal feed manufacturing unit will also be transferred to NDDB under this agreement. Built at a cost of Rs 18.44 crore, this unit currently produces 100 metric tonnes of bypass protein feed per day, helping farmers across the state access affordable cattle feed. This financial year, the unit is estimated to earn a profit of Rs 66.88 lakh. The operations of these units handed over to NDDB aimed to help timely payments to farmers, active participation of local cooperative societies, planned use of resources, proper maintenance of equipment, and reduction of unnecessary expenses. The government further stated, under this model, there will be no extra financial burden on the state government, and the revenue-sharing benefits will be equally shared between the state and the farmers.
The Print
24-06-2025
- Business
- The Print
The real White Revolution—Shastri's NDDB built a farmers-first economy that still works
Shastri's tenure saw the establishment of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), Food Corporation of India (FCI), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Shastri's home in Delhi at 1, Motilal Nehru Marg, now called the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial, displays his few material possessions, photographs with visiting dignitaries, besides some vignettes from his early years in Mughalsarai, Varanasi, and Allahabad (now Prayagraj). However, little attention has been given to the six institutions established by him—each with a lasting impact on India's political economy. In his brief tenure of eighteen months—from May 1964 to January 1966—Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri laid the foundation for India's Green Revolution and played a crucial role in the White Revolution. He also led India to its first victory against Pakistan in the battlefield—the 1965 war. He gave India the stirring slogan of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan . The spot where his memorial is built is appropriately called Vijay Ghat. As 2025 marks the 60th year of these institutions, it is a good time to introspect if they have lived up to the expectations with which they were founded. Naturally, over the years, the ecosystem and context have witnessed a major change. The question is: are these institutions keeping pace with the times and the expectations which their stakeholders have from them? Let's first start with the most successful and prominent among them—the Anand–based NDDB, which is today the lodestar of India's cooperative movement. Founded in 1965 under the chairmanship of Verghese Kurien, it received statutory status in 1987 under the NDDB Act. It is a good coincidence that the UN has declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives. This also gives us an opportunity to critically evaluate the role played by NDDB in mobilising farmers and primary producers into cooperatives, farmer producer organisations, and 'producer companies' under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. The NDDB supports not only milk but also edible oils, millets, organic produce, fruits, and green energy. The most prominent brand associated with the NDDB group is Amul, which has a turnover of Rs 90,000 crore. Its closest competition is Nandini, a brand under the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) cooperative, with an annual turnover of Rs 23,000 crore, followed by Mother Dairy at Rs 15,037 crore. These three top brands are way ahead of their closest corporate competitor, Nestle, whose milk and milk products division has a turnover of around Rs 7,600 crore. As such, price discovery and price realisation in the milk and associated sectors are primarily determined by cooperatives promoted by the NDDB. The genesis While visiting Anand, Gujarat, on 31 October 1964, the birthday of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Lal Bahadur Shastri spent the night at the home of dairy farmer Ramanbhai Punjabbhai Patel. His discussions with the villagers convinced him of the virtues of the cooperative dairy model established by Tribhuvandas K Patel and managed efficiently by Verghese Kurien. The next morning, Shastri said to Kurien, 'I have put the most competent and experienced officers from the IAS in our milk cooperatives. In spite of this, nowhere do we see similar success. In what way are you different?' To this, Kurien replied, 'Sir, in Kheda, I am an employee of the farmers. If I fail, they can fire me. In other cases, farmers are the 'subjects' of the government official controlling their society.' Shastri smiled in agreement. 'Dr Kurien, you have to help me do what you are doing nationwide. I want you to head the National Development Board,' he said. Kurien agreed, but put forward two conditions. 'First, I will not 'join' NDDB, and will continue to remain an employee of the Kheda Milk Co-operative. Secondly, I would not like to move to Delhi, and therefore the NDDB headquarters would have to be in Anand.' Shastri accepted both these demands. Thus, Anand became the epicentre of this cooperative movement. The incredibly long tenure of NDDB's helmsman, Kurien, from 1965 to 1998 helped set in place systems and processes that have stood the test of time. The organisation now had the benefit of learning from its successes and failures in a wide range of geographies and demographics—there were milk unions in the Himalayas and the foothills, in desert regions, in irrigated as well as unirrigated tracts, in women-headed households, and in hamlets where patriarchy was deeply entrenched. Kurien handed the mantle to his erstwhile protégé, Amrita Patel (toward the end they sparred bitterly), who also had a tenure of 16 long years. In 2014, T Nanda Kumar, former food and agriculture secretary, was appointed as NDDB's chairman, but he resigned before completing five years. He was followed by Dilip Rath who had joined as the MD of NDDB after resigning from the IAS. After five years, the interim charge was held by Varsha Joshi, joint secretary in the union fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying ministry, who continues to be on the Board in an ex-officio capacity. Currently, Meenesh C Shah is the chairman and managing director of NDDB. Also read: Nothing like deviation in democracy. Even Lenin & Stalin adapted: Lal Bahadur Shastri The core principles While there have been several changes over the six decades in terms of technology, logistics, and support services, the core principles have been retained. From the very beginning, Kurien had insisted that whatever milk is brought for procurement should be accepted—no minima or maxima were prescribed—and so women-headed households with school-going children and just one cow may give less than a litre of milk, while those who had more cattle could contribute more than ten litres as well. All milk was measured and tested—each lot was tested using a centrifuge machine—and the price was determined on the basis of 'solid' and 'fat' content of the milk, thereby disincentivising any admixture with water. Farmers were provided not just with technical inputs, but were also given training on how to conduct and manage the affairs of their society—from elections and accounts to governance at the primary, district, and apex levels. It comes as no surprise then that compared to cooperatives in any other domain, the salience of the milk producer cooperative societies has reigned supreme. Over the years, NDDB took up other project-based activities in the agribusiness domain—from edible oils to Mother Dairy, fruits and vegetables (SAFAL), immunologicals, and agribusiness management. NDDB has encouraged its affiliated organisations to be flexible in its strategic outreach. Realising that as a brand, Amul must have a pan-India presence, it has also encouraged strategic tie-ups with large aggregators and processors to ensure its brand presence in all metros and Tier-I and Tier-II cities of the country. But this is not all. NDDB keeps expanding its domain to everything connected with the farmers—for while it is one thing to get into an economy of scale, it has moved beyond scale to get into scope. The NDDB's latest initiative is a joint venture named Mrida (meaning earth in Sanskrit) with the Suzuki R&D Center India. Its aim is to expand biogas plants across India. Here is a connection between two apparently unrelated sectors: dairying and automobiles. This will create more value for dairy farmers through the efficient utilisation of dung to produce clean energy and organic fertilisers. This is a circular economy in practice—every element in the chain is an input for another process—and there is no such thing as waste. The NDDB is collaborating with ISRO to track fodder resources, supporting startups in hydroponic fodder production, and ensuring that over fifty million milk producers in agriculture are part of a value chain in which they have a stake in ownership, control, and profits. The NDDB has had its share of failures. The Safal National exchange—an attempt to break the stranglehold of the APMCs—floundered while some subsidiary companies had to close down. It required government fiat to ensure that NDDB came within the ambit of CAG, CVC, and the RTI. The argument that farmers organisations should be subjected only to the control of their members is fine with respect to the cooperatives, but NDDB is also one of the largest cooperative funding institutions in the country. Later this year, in the week leading to the birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri, NDDB will be among the six institutions whose legacy will be discussed, not just in a self-congratulatory mode, but also about what needs to be done in the coming decades to evolve new strategies even when the core principles of cooperative philosophy remain firmly etched. This is the first article in a series on Lal Bahadur Shastri and the institutions he helped establish. Sanjeev Chopra is a former IAS officer and Festival Director of Valley of Words. Until recently, he was director, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration. He tweets @ChopraSanjeev. Views are personal. Disclosure: The columnist is a trustee of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial (LBS Museum). (Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Patwari writes to Shah over Sanchi brand ‘decline' after merger with NDDB
Bhopal: Congress state unit chief Jitu Patwari has written to Union home and cooperative minister Amit Shah, raising alarm over what he termed the rapid decline of the state's flagship dairy brand 'Sanchi' following its merger with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In a letter to Shah, he said the merger has neither benefited consumers of Sanchi products nor the farmers supplying milk to the MP State Cooperative Dairy Federation. He accused the state govt of neglecting the brand. Patwari wrote at the time of merger, CM Mohan Yadav had announced that the share of MP in overall milk production of the country would be raised from 9 per cent to 20 per cent and "you, too, had given direction to the MP govt to take the target seriously". The Congress leader, however, regretted that it has turned out to be an 'airy' target while the situation on the ground is just the opposite. Patwari claimed that the milk collection by the federation has in fact declined. While the total milk collection from Indore was 94,496 Kg in 2023-24, it reduced to 85,438 Kg in 2024-25. Similarly, the sale of milk has also dipped from 1.56 lakh litre to 1.51 litre. The committees of milk producing farmers also reduced from 385 to 362. The 'Sanchi Parlour' scheme, too, was in a bad shape as 257 applications for setting up a parlour are pending in Indore division itself. Only 57 of them have been accepted and only 31 have opened. In Indore city , 74 applications are pending and only 1 has been accepted. The 'neglect' of Sanchi brand by the govt has "obliquely promoted the private milk brands and they have launched milk and several milk products in the market. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It's not only damaging the brand value of 'Sanchi' but also leading to 'exploitation' of milk-producing farmers", he said. Patwari alleged that the milk-producing farmers in place of getting remunerative prices for the milk and becoming economically self-sufficient are being driven into economic crisis due to neglect by the state government and bureaucracy. While stating that as cooperative minister, Shah was supposed to strengthen the cooperative bodies all over the country, Patwari said he should not "mutely see a historic cooperative movement like 'Sanchi' go to ruins". He also suggested steps to the union cooperative minister to improve the 'Sanchi brand including formation of an independent panel to examine the actual state of affairs at MP Milk Federation, disposal of application for setting up of 'Sanchi' parlour all over the state in a time-bound manner, review the role of NDDB in collection of milk, its price determination and its distribution network and make the entire process transparent, the state government should be asked to explain why the milk production is not increasing despite announcement of the chief minister. He urged the union cooperative minister to "save" Sanchi brand from decline in the overall interest of the country's cooperative movement.
