By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 14, 2025: THE Hon'ble President of India, Droupadi Murmu, virtually inaugurated a series of impactful initiatives in the dairy and livestock sector in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha on Monday, 13th January 2025. Spearheaded by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, these programs aim to enhance rural livelihoods, improve livestock productivity and address critical nutritional challenges in the region.

The event was graced by several dignitaries including Union Minister, Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Ministry of Panchayati Raj; Union Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education; Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry  and Dairying and Panchayati Raj; George Kurian, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Minority Affairs and Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha.

During the event, the Hon'ble President of India inaugurated the Cattle Induction Program in Mayurbhanj under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission. This initiative included the distribution of 3,000 high-genetic-merit cattle to identified beneficiaries in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. Under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission scheme of DAHD, a Productivity Enhancement project is being implemented by the National Dairy Development Board in Mayurbhanj with an allocation of ?37.45 crores over five years. The program seeks to enhance milk production, strengthen rural incomes, and promote sustainable livestock practices. As part of the event, the Gift Milk Program was also launched. Designed to combat malnutrition and improve the health of the children, this program will provide 200 ml of flavoured milk fortified with Vitamins A and D to approximately 1,200 schoolchildren in Mayurbhanj district . While virtually inaugurating the initiative, the Hon'ble President of India noted the positive impact of such programs on nutrition and education, expressing hope that such efforts would serve as a model for similar interventions nationwide. Additionally, the Hon'ble President launched a Market Support Program to strengthen milk procurement, processing and marketing in the State of Odisha . This initiative is aimed at increasing milk procurement capacity in the state from 5 lakh liters per day to 10 lakh liters per day. This program focuses on building branding and distribution networks to ensure better returns for the farmers.

In her address, the Hon'ble President Droupadi Murmu commended the efforts of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in transforming the dairy sector through forward-looking policies and innovative interventions. She highlighted India's leadership in milk production, which has grown at an impressive 6% annual rate over the last decade, surpassing global trends. The President also emphasized the need for adopting advanced technologies, such as Artificial Insemination and sex-sorted semen, to enhance livestock productivity and increase the profitability of dairy farming.

Union Minister, Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh also addressed the gathering and emphasized upon the success of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, which has made significant contributions towards breed improvement and productivity enhancement of the indigenous bovine breeds. The Union Minister also lauded the efforts of  DAHD and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for driving rural economic growth and providing consistent support for strategic dairy initiatives while improving market connectivity for farmers.

Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha, highlighted the vital role of livestock in fostering sustainable rural livelihoods. He emphasized the state's commitment to advancing the dairy and livestock sectors through innovative and farmer-centric programs.

The event also witnessed the presence of Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Minister for Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Odisha; Gokulananda Mallik, Minister for Animal Resources Development, Fisheries & MSMEs, Odisha, Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary, DAHD; Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, DAHD; Meenesh Shah Chairman NDDB; Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Principal Secretary, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development Department, Odisha and other Senior officials.