Dairy industry can play crucial role in doubling farmers’ income: Expert

VARANASI: The animal husbandry and dairy sector can play a crucial role in achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mission for doubling farmers income by 2022, said Prof JB Prajapati, chairman, Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE) at the Institute of Rural Management, Anand.

Prajapati was speaking at a webinar organised by the department of Dairy Science and Food Technology (BHU) in association with Indian Dairy Association (Eastern UP chapter) and Indian Institute of Packaging, Mumbai on Thursday.

The topic was “Functional Dairy Foods: The way forward for Dairy Industry after COVID-19”.

Over 200 students/participants from various states and countries like Denmark, Iran, Nepal, Thailand and UK joined the webinar.

Prajapati underlined the challenges being faced by the dairy sector despite its robust growth in the country and laid emphasis on finding solution to deal with the challenges. “Milk is a global food and our PM Modi knows it very well that it is the animal husbandry and dairy sector through which the mission of PM for doubling farmers income by 2022 can be achieved,” he said.

Prof Dinesh Chandra Rai, HOD of the department spoke about the current opportunities for employment in the sector and post pandemic effect on small entrepreneurs and farmers’ income.

“We need to come out with innovative ideas to develop new products in the field of dairy processing,” he said and also discussed the vital aspect of functional food and its beneficial effects on consumers’ health.

Rai said the recent MoU signed between University of Copenhagen, Denmark and Indian Institute of Packaging, Mumbai with BHU will create a platform for nurturing the need of entrepreneurs, researchers, farmers and students.

Dr Richard Ipsen, professor emeritus, University of Copenhagen, Denmark discussed

“‘Recent advances in processing of fermented dairy products”.

Dr Bimlesh Mann, principal scientist, ICAR-NDRI talked about “Strategies and Challenges in the Development of Functional Dairy Foods”.

Dr Tanweer Alam, director, Indian Institute of Packaging, Mumbai said due to Covid-19 the demand for packaged commodities has gone up.

OVER 200 STUDENTS/ PARTICIPANTS FROM VARIOUS STATES AND COUNTRIES JOINED THE WEBINAR AT BHU