Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged Amul to take the lead in helping India become the third largest milk processing country in the world by 2022, in time for India's 75th year of independence.
Inaugurating Amul's ultra modern chocolate manufacturing unit worth Rs 600 crore in Mogar, Anand, Modi said that Amul would turn 75 in a few years and it is not impossible for India to attain the third position in milk processing by 2022. Currently, India is ranked 10th in the world.
The prime minister also inaugurated various development projects worth Rs 1,100 crore, including the chocolate plant. Modi has a packed day in his home state Gujarat. He will visit Rajkot and Kutch as well.
The prime minister recalled how Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel laid the foundation of the cooperative movement. Remembering Amul's journey of 70 years and the role played by cooperative sector leaders, Modi said it is a matter of pride that Amul has become a recognisable brand in more than 40 countries. “Amul has become an identity and a necessity,” he remarked.
Amul, Modi said, is an inspiration world over. It is just not about manufacturing or milk processing, but has become an excellent model of empowerment.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, meanwhile, indulged in bashing the Congress party and said that when they were in power, the party failed to look at the interests of the people. Modi further added that earlier, those in Gandhinagar hindered the growth of cooperatives in Kutch and Saurashtra region, where it is most needed. “When we came to power, we changed the rules and now almost all districts of the state have opportunity for dairy farming,” he said.
Modi said that people mocked him when he promoted camel milk and now Amul's chocolate, made out of camel milk, is more in demand than the ones made from cow's milk.
The prime minister also appreciated 11 farmers, who have formed a cooperative to generate power. They use the power in the fields and excess power is sold to the state government via grid. Having come up in Central Gujarat, it is considered first of its kind of a cooperative in the country.
