Assam’s largest dairy cooperative, Purabi Dairy, celebrated National Milk Day to commemorate 101st birth anniversary of the “Father of the White Revolution in India” Verghese Kurien, also known as the “Milkman of India”, on November 26.
The milk day, organised by West Assam Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union Limited (WAMUL), popularly known as Purabi Dairy, acknowledged the work of Kurien. The event provided a platform for exchange of ideas and sharing experiences for the people associated with dairy farming.
During the event, Satya Brata Bose, managing director at WAMUL highlighted the rising popularity of dairying as a source of income among the farmers of Assam. Over the years WAMUL has grown from strength to strength in ensuring a round a year remunerative market to its associated dairy farmers besides providing quality-based value-added products to its esteemed consumers.
“In the last several years we have seen an increase in milk production and procurement. Due to the efforts of the government, NDDB and other allied agencies, dairy farmers are getting rich dividends. The milk value chain has seen a tremendous improvement as we all continue to thrive. Our rural economy has strengthened due to timely interventions and this has benefitted the farmers,” Bose said.
It is now well established that dairying stands for nutrition as well as livelihood. In the words of Verghese Kurien: “What we proved is a simple truth, if you place the tools of development in the hands of those who are directly involved in creating the resources on which development rests, and if you combine the wisdom, the energy and the basic knowledge of our farmers with the skills of committed professionals there is nothing that cannot be achieved”.
