For 100% circularity in dairy sector, go beyond dung and process skin, bones: Amit Shah

Union Minister Amit Shah emphasizes circularity in dairy sector, promoting use of cattle skin, bones, and machinery in cooperatives.

Maintaining that the dairy sector is probably the only way to control the exodus of people from villages to cities, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said circularity in the sector should not be limited to processing dung, but it should also include using skin and bones of the cattle and making machinery used in the segment in the cooperative sector.

Inaugurating a workshop on “Sustainability and Circularity in Dairy Sector” organised by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying here on Monday, Mr. Shah directed the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to seek the possibilities of organising small cooperatives at the level of villages to process skins and bones of cattle.

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“Skin and bones should not be sent to unorganised sector. Small cooperatives can be asked to process this skin and sell it to companies that make shoes. This will earn profit for farmers,” he said adding that 100% circularity should be the aim of cooperatives.

On processing dung and producing biogas out of it, he said cooperatives should help private dairies in the process. He added that cooperatives should be able to make all machines in the dairy sector and also should start exporting it to the global market.

”At present, the emphasis should be given on setting up the entire chain from farm to factory in the village itself. To uplift marginal farmers, it is crucial to map a journey from villages to the global stage, fostering confidence through collective efforts and establishing a comprehensive farm-to-factory value chain,” Mr. Shah said. He added tat the objective of cooperatives is to earn profit as well as to put “people first”. “We can realise the principle of ‘profit for people’ only through cooperatives,” he added.

Union Animal Husbandry Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh said with focus on circularity and sustainability in the dairy sector, use of cow dung to produce fuel will help in increasing income of farmers. He said a large quantity of cow dung is hence available that can be used for organic fertiliser, biofuels, etc., that will boost productivity.