Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple projects of Sabar Dairy at Gadhoda Chowki in Gujarat’s Sabarkantha worth more than Rs 1,000 crores on July 28. According to Prime Minister`s Office (PMO), these projects will empower local farmers and milk producers and increase their income. This will also give a boost to the rural economy in the region.

Among the inaugurated projects, PM Modi integrated 120 metric tonnes per day (MTPD) Powder manufacturing plant. The total cost of the entire project is more than Rs 300 crores. The layout of the plant meets global food safety standards. It is highly energy efficient with almost zero emission. The plant is equipped with the latest and fully automated bulk packing line. Prime Minister also inaugurated the Aseptic Milk Packaging Plant at Sabar Dairy. It is a state-of-the-art plant with a capacity of 3 Lakh Litre per day. The project has been executed with a total investment of around Rs 125 crores. 

Notably, Sabar Dairy is a part of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which makes and markets a whole range of milk and milk products under the Amul brand.

The Prime Minister felicitated beneficiaries of Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme and top women milk producers. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was among those present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said that Sabar Dairy’s capacity will increase further with the addition of a milk powder plant with modern technology and one more line in the aseptic packing section.

The Prime Minister also remembered Shri Bhurabhai Patel, one of the founder personalities of the Sabar Dairy. The Prime Minister also recalled his long association with the area and local people, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a release.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the work of the formation of 10,000 Farmer Producer Associations (FPOs) is going on in full swing in the country. “Through these FPOs, small farmers will be able to directly connect with the food processing, value-linked export and supply chain. The farmers of Gujarat are also going to benefit a lot from it,” he said.

“The strategy of creating alternative income streams for farmers is bearing fruit. Horticulture, fishery and honey production are giving good income to the farmers. Khadi and Gramodyog turnover has gone over one lakh crore for the first time. More than 1.5 crore new jobs were created in this sector in villages,” he added.

Image source: ANI