Speech of Chairman, NDDB Foundation stone laying of 2 MW Solar Power Plant 5th July, 2022 – Ernakulam

Greetings to all of you from the National Dairy Development Board

    • Dr. L Murugan ji, Hon’ble Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India 
    • Smt. J Chinchurani ji, Hon’ble Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Government of Kerala.
    • Hon. Members of Parliament and Kerala Legislative Assembly,
    • Other dignitaries on dais, Board of Directors of Milma, invited guests, dear farmer members, employees of Milma, members of the Press, and other guests present on this special occasion.

 

  1. I am very delighted to address this august gathering on the occasion of the foundation stone laying of 2MW solar power plant at Ernakulam Dairy and unveiling of the bust of the father of white revolution in India- Dr. Verghese Kurien at ERCMPU head office premises. 
  2. NDDB is happy to be closely associated with the solar power plant initiative of Ernakulam Milk Union; starting from inception of the idea, project preparation, appraisal, sanction and funding under Dairy Processing Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) scheme to match one of the major project objective of bringing efficiency in Dairy Processing Plants. Upon completion of this project, Ernakulam Milk Union will be the pioneer in dairy sector in India to have a fully solar powered dairy plant.
  3. In fact, Kerala remained very close to NDDB since inception of Milma in 1980. Many of the dairy plants in the state were set up under Operation Flood, which also laid the foundation of strong growth of dairying in Kerala. 
  4. I personally had the privilege of being associated with the Ernakulam Milk Union in its implementation of a rehabilitation plan  under the Government of India’s Assistance to Cooperatives scheme. 
  5. More recently, under the National Dairy Plan I, grant assistance of more than Rs.30 crore was availed by the dairy cooperatives in Kerala. 
  6. During the past few months, NDDB officers have been working closely with officers of the Ernakulam Milk Union to prepare a Detailed Project Report for funding under NDDB’s newly launched scheme, “Support to Promising Milk Union”. Ernakulam Milk Union has been identified as one of the most promising milk unions in the country with a potential to grow fast and support more farmers earn a better livelihood. The proposal envisages a grant-in-aid of Rs.3.0 crore and an interest free loan of Rs.5.0 crore that will be fully funded by NDDB. You will be glad to know that Ernakulam Milk Union is the first dairy cooperative in the country to implement a project under this scheme. NDDB will also provide technical assistance and manpower support to the Union for implementation of the scheme. 
  7. Apart from this, NDDB will be extending technical assistance to KCMMF in strengthening its marketing activities, brand building, skill development of key manpower, improving quality and also introduction of new variants of cattle feed & feed supplements to meet the nutritional needs of various category of dairy animals.  NDDB will also be promoting manure enrichment activities in the state.
  8. We shall be working in close association with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in Kerala for implementing breed improvement programmes, animal healthcare initiatives, expanding the digital database of dairy animals, promoting ethno-veterinary formulations in animal healthcare management, strengthening green and dry fodder supply grid. All these are initiatives to reduce input cost in dairying.
  9. I wish the dairy sector in Kerala a bright future and assure NDDB’s support in all developmental initiatives in this sector

Thank You.