New Delhi/Srinagar, Oct 12:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched multiple projects worth Rs 947 crore to boost India’s livestock and dairy sectors and laid the foundation for new projects worth Rs 219 crore. The event, held in New Delhi as part of a special Krishi Programme, also featured inspiring stories of progressive farmers from across the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, who shared how government initiatives have helped transform their lives.
During the event, the Prime Minister also launched two national schemes — the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY) and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses. Both initiatives aim to strengthen rural livelihoods, create employment opportunities and promote self-reliance in agriculture and allied sectors.
A farmer innovator from Kashmir shared his entrepreneurial journey, saying his venture has grown from three to fourteen employees and now earns a profit of Rs 15 lakh annually. He credited improved market access, cold-chain facilities, and faster train connectivity for helping him expand his business and reach new markets outside the Valley. Another farmer from Kashmir, who returned from the USA in 2014, said he started with 10 acres of cultivation and has now expanded to over 300 acres, employing nearly 200 people. He said his goal is to scale operations to 10,000 acres while ensuring sustainable and environmentally responsible farming. He also emphasized the importance of protecting fertile land for future generations.
Prime Minister Modi appreciated both the Kashmiri farmers, saying their stories highlight the changing face of Indian agriculture and the spirit of innovation among young farmers. He urged others to learn from such examples and adopt modern, sustainable methods in their work.
The Prime Minister advised farmers to gradually adopt natural farming. He suggested that farmers begin by converting one bigha out of four to natural farming and expand it after seeing the benefits over time. Modi said this approach will help farmers build confidence while improving soil fertility and reducing costs.
He announced that under the PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana, campaigns related to animal health will be launched at the local level. The Prime Minister said that more than 125 crore vaccines have already been provided free of cost to protect animals from diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease and Brucellosis. He said the government is promoting animal husbandry, fisheries, and beekeeping as alternative sources of income for small and landless farmers, especially in regions where crop farming is difficult.
Among the key projects launched on Saturday was the inauguration of the first Livestock IVF Laboratory in the North East, established in Guwahati, Assam, under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission with an investment of ₹28.93 crore. This facility will boost dairy development, breed improvement, and livestock productivity in the northeastern states.
Under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), several major projects were inaugurated, including a ₹460 crore project by Mehsana Milk Union with a 120 MT per day Milk Powder Plant and a 3.5 lakh litre per day UHT Plant, a ₹76.50 crore Milk Powder Plant by Indore Milk Union, a ₹46.82 crore UHT Plant by Bhilwara Milk Union, and a ₹25.45 crore Greenfield Dairy Plant in Karimnagar, Telangana. The foundation stone was also laid for an Integrated Dairy and 200 TPD Cattle Feed Plant in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, with a total investment of Rs 219 crore.
Ten new projects worth Rs 303.81 crore were also inaugurated under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) across multiple states to strengthen feed, milk, and animal product processing capacity. The Prime Minister distributed certificates to 2,000 newly trained Multipurpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs) from Uttar Pradesh. More than 38,000 such technicians are now active across the country to support livestock breeding and dairy productivity under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission.
Jammu and Kashmir is emerging as a new hub for agri-entrepreneurship, organic farming, floriculture, and dairy cooperatives. Central government schemes and better connectivity have made it easier for farmers from the region to access national markets. The introduction of modern technology, refrigerated transport, and financial support through government programmes has helped many young entrepreneurs in the Valley.
Prime Minister Modi said the government’s focus is on integrated rural development through the combination of agriculture, livestock, and allied activities. He said these projects will not only raise farmers’ incomes but also ensure food security and strengthen India’s journey towards self-reliance in the agricultural sector.
The projects launched on Saturday mark another step toward achieving sustainable agricultural growth across India, with Jammu and Kashmir emerging as a significant contributor to this transformation.
