Dairying has been considered an important ally to agriculture since ancient times. Even today, when the current scenario is that of farmers’suicides in Vidarbha, it is an excellent alternative that can provide very good business with regular and adequate income. It has immense prospects in the near future not just as milk per se, but in value-added, processed milk products. In such a scenario, Mother Dairy, the Government, and NABARD have various schemes and subsidies for the farmers, which can easily be availed of.
In a webinar on opportunities and challenges in the dairy industry, organised by the Vidarbha Economic Development Council (VED), experts said that it was possible to develop the dairy industry through training and technology in Vidarbha. According to the statement in our culture that the cow can bring Goddess Lakshmi to the door, the experts
reiterated that a farmer with livestock is prosperous. Dr. Ashish Paturkar, Vice-Chancellor, Maharashtra State Animal Husbandry and Fisheries University (MAFSU), in his address, emphasized the need to increase the production of milk and put up, if not big plants, then smaller plants in larger numbers, for milk processing.
In his address, Sudhir Dive, Executive Council, MAFSU and Director, Dive Bandhu Cow Products PL, clarified that milk producers should opt for good indigenous breeds and good donors, and go for artificial insemination through IVF, now available, for the proliferation of the birth of ‘cows’ for higher milk yield.
There is no guarantee of income from unreliable farming, but the dairy business is a source of income for twelve months, this opinion was expressed by Mohan Srigiriwar, Dairy Farming Consultant and Trainer in Dairy Farming Management and President, Vasant Foundation. Ranjit Kumar Rathore, Head, Mother Dairy, Nagpur, emphasised the need for hygiene in the cowshed and its surroundings and the personal hygiene of the milkman which would prevent contamination of milk, and he stressed that milk should be unadulterated as people, especially children, are dependent on it as it is a complete food. Pradip Bhoyar,Principal & Consultant in A.H. & Dairy Institute, mentioned that Vidarbha has lagged behind in milk production which should be increased.
Following the expert opinions, a question and answer session was held. The webinar was moderated by Pankaj Mahajan. At the outset, VED Council President, Shivkumar Rao, welcomed the speakers and the audience with his opening remarks which included information about the activities of VED, while Vice-President, Pankaj Mahajan, also the Chairman of the Agri. & Allied Services Forum of VED, introduced the speakers. At the beginning of the webinar, Dr. Ashish Paturkar released the first of VED’s quarterly brochure, “Outreach”.The vote of thanks was moved by Varun Vijaywargi, Secretary-General,VED.
