Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, virtually laid the foundation stone for Mother Dairy’s proposed state-of-the-art mega milk processing plant in Nagpur, Maharashtra. This significant event unfolded during the inaugural day of Agrovision 2023, in the esteemed presence of Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Revenue, Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development, Government of Maharashtra, Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and Manish Bandlish, Managing Director, Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable.
The new plant, set up with an investment of over INR 500 crores, will span 25 acres in the Butibori Industrial Estate, Nagpur. The upcoming facility is designed with a processing capacity of 6 lakh liters of milk per day, expandable up to 10 lakh liters per day. It will produce poly-pack milk and various value-added dairy products, including ice creams, chaach, lassi, paneer, etc.
During the event, Nitin Gadkari, the esteemed Minister for Road Transport & Highways in the Government of India, expressed that the day is truly auspicious. He highlighted the collaborative efforts of the Government of India, Government of Maharashtra, and NDDB-Mother Dairy, marking a new chapter in dairy development for the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.
Mr. Gadkari reaffirmed his vision for Vidarbha and Marathwada to play a crucial role in enhancing the milk production of Maharashtra. He emphasized the significant contribution of NDDB and Mother Dairy in boosting milk production in these areas, recognizing the positive impact of their interventions on the region’s dairy farmers’ returns. Mr. Gadkari noted that the forthcoming operational Mother Dairy processing plant would create new opportunities for farmers in Vidarbha and Marathwada. To replicate the success of the dairy development program, he encouraged NDDB and Mother Dairy to explore potential avenues for fruits, vegetables, and edible oils produced in the region, leveraging the Safal and Dhara brands.
Gadkari commended the Government of Maharashtra for providing NDDB-Mother Dairy with this opportunity and consistently striving to improve the conditions for the region’s milk producers. He expressed that the Government of India shares equal enthusiasm for the ongoing dairy transformation in these areas.
Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Revenue, Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development, Government of Maharashtra, stated that the dairy development project being undertaken in Vidarbha and Marathwada has indeed provided a new ray of hope to the dairy farmers of the region.
Patil emphasized that previously, dairy farmers in the region struggled to receive profitable returns, prompting some to exit the dairy business. However, with the entry of NDDB-Mother Dairy into the region, the situation has undergone a significant transformation. He also noted the remarkable increase in milk production due to the dairy development project, a stark contrast to the previous negligible levels. Patil commended the foresight behind such a positive change. He underscored the Government of Maharashtra’s commitment to supporting the expansion of this dairy development project into numerous additional districts.
During the event, Dr. Meenesh Shah, Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board, highlighted the initiatives and strategies implemented by NDDB and Mother Dairy for the dairy development in Vidarbha and Marathwada. He underscored the significance of the livestock and dairy sectors in the socio-economic development of the rural areas. Dr. Shah shared that as a result of the Vidarbha-Marathwada Dairy Development Project, the average daily milk procurement in the region has reached approximately 3 lakh liters, benefiting around 30,000 farmers across 3000 villages in 11 districts. The dairy farmers in the region have accrued benefits amounting to around INR 2000 crores for their produce.
Manish Bandlish, Managing Director of Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd., expressed that Mother Dairy has successfully developed a resilient procurement network and a substantial presence in booths/retail. He mentioned the organization’s efforts to strengthen the entire value chain in the region through the new plant. The planned Nagpur milk processing plant, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, will be Mother Dairy’s fifth facility in the Western region. This expansion complements the existing plants in Gujarat and Maharashtra, underscoring the commitment to extend beyond Delhi NCR and specifically target growth in the Western markets.
The upcoming facility stands as one of Mother Dairy’s largest dairy processing centers, featuring state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure. The products produced at this facility will be distributed and marketed throughout various regions of the country.