Chhattisgarh has taken a historic step towards cooperative development and empowerment of rural economy. Two important MoUs were signed today in the presence of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah and Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai. This initiative will prove to be an important milestone in accelerating dairy and forest produce development in the state as well as in the upliftment of tribal community and farmers.
During the event, an agreement was signed between the Chhattisgarh government and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for the development of the dairy sector. Another MoU was also signed between Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Federation Limited and National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL).
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah said on this occasion that Chhattisgarh is a state where nature has distributed its wealth in abundance. There is no shortage of water, land or hardworking people here. All that was needed was a good start. In today’s program, two new and positive starts have been made in the field of dairy and forest produce. He said that today the whole world has understood that due to the increasing amount of chemical elements in our food, diseases like cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and thyroid are increasing rapidly. In such a situation, the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has taken concrete steps towards promoting organic farming. Organic farming is not only beneficial for health, but it is also favorable for the environment and fertility of the land.
Sharing his experience of Gujarat, he said that farming is being done successfully on 21 acres of land there by making organic manure from the dung of the indigenous cow. He said that through organic farming we can make agriculture profitable and revive the fertility of the land.
Regarding the development of forest produce, he said that from today, the forest produce of the tribal community, which was earlier sold at a very low price, will now be sold at a reasonable price through certification and better marketing. This will help in empowering the tribal community and increasing their income. Describing the establishment of National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) as a milestone, he said that under this, testing and certification of organic products will be ensured across the country. He praised the Chhattisgarh government and all the officials associated with these schemes. He expressed confidence that this step will prove helpful in taking the state towards development and prosperity.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai said on this occasion that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, animal husbandry and dairy industry are being promoted as part of the efforts to double the income of farmers across the country. He described this initiative as an example of the ‘double engine government’s’ working style of working fast and delivering results.
The Chief Minister said that through this agreement, the state will get the benefit of technical upgradation, professional experience and expertise of NDDB in the development of dairy industry. The dairy industry will not only increase employment opportunities, but will also strengthen the rural economy and improve the nutritional level of the people of the state. The increase in milk production will give a new direction to the nutrition campaign, which will help in the health and development of children.
The Chief Minister informed that at present 621 cooperative societies are working in the state. Through this agreement, 3850 villages will be connected with the establishment of 3200 new societies in the next three years. Also, Milk Producer Organization will be established in 300 villages of 6 districts. Milk collection, which is currently 75,000 kilolitres per day, has been targeted to reach 5 lakh kilolitres per day in the next three years. Apart from this, 220 bulk milk cooler units will be established.
He said that at present 16,324 cattle keepers are associated with the cooperative societies, which will be increased to 1.5 lakh in the near future. These cattle keepers will be provided the facility of milk testing and immediate payment with the help of modern technology and machines. The scheme of providing two milch cows to the people of the scheduled caste will give a boost to the dairy industry. Also, the establishment of biogas and bio fertilizer plants in these villages will increase the income of the farmers.
The Chief Minister specially thanked Union Cooperative Minister Shri Amit Shah for this historic occasion. He said that this agreement is the result of his vision and guidance. Congratulating all the officials of NDDB and Chhattisgarh Milk Federation, he said that this partnership will prove to be important in taking the state towards development and prosperity.
The Chief Minister appealed to the farmers of the state to increase their income by joining cooperative societies and participate in the creation of developed Chhattisgarh. This agreement will provide a new direction and new energy for the dairy industry and rural development of the state. On this occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, Chief Secretary Shri Amitabh Jain, representatives of National Dairy Development Board and National Cooperative Organics Limited, farmers associated with milk cooperative society, women farmers, members of forest produce cooperative society were present.
