Nation remembers Father of White Revolution Dr Kurien

Reports of several co-operatives remembering the Father of the White Revolution in India, Dr. Verghese Kurien on his 101st birth anniversary have poured in from various parts of the country. Events and Seminars were conducted at GCMMF, IRMA, Bangalore by the AHD Ministry and many others.

Individual co-operators have also taken to social media to remember co-op doyen Dr Kurien for his revolutionary ideas and successful experimentation with the dairy sector. Dr. Verghese Kurien is credited with empowering the women of Gujarat by introducing the co-op model of milk collection and marketing.

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Govt. of Karnataka, National Dairy Development Board and Karnataka Milk Federation joined hands to organize this memorable national event in Karnataka.

During the ceremony, the Chief Guest Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India presented the National Gopal Ratna Awards to the winners of the Best Dairy Farmer rearing indigenous cattle/buffalo breeds, Best Artificial Insemination Technician and Best Dairy
Cooperative Society (DCS)/ Milk Producer Company/ Dairy Farmer Producer Organization in the country.

Felicitating the winners, the Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying stated that, indigenous bovine breeds of India are robust and possess the genetic potential to play a crucial role in the national economy.

During the event, Dr Sanjeev Balyan, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying laid the foundation stone of Advanced Training Facility at Central Frozen Semen Production and Training Institute at Hesaraghatta, Karnataka. He also launched the Bovine IVF-(Invitro-fertilization) activities at Central Cattle
Breeding Farm, Hesaraghatta, Bangalore.

Union Secretary, AHD, Rajesh Kumar Singh during his introductory speech stated that, CFSP&TI and CCBF are the premier farms under the Department of the AHD, and these farms have played a vital role in the milk production of our country, by adopting improved and advanced breeding technologies in animal breeding.

Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary (Cattle and Dairy Development) during her welcome address mentioned that, under the Advanced breed improvement programs (ABIP) of RGM scheme, CCBF, Hassarghatta has taken up the implementation of IVF activities for faster genetic improvement in dairy cows, which will ensure an increase the milk production in the country.

S T Somashekhar, Minister of Co-operation, Karnataka, and Balachandra L. Jarkiholi, Chairman, KMF also graced the occasion with their presence. During the function a book on the life of Dr. Varghese Kurian and a booklet on Milk Adulteration were released.

More than 1500 farmers from different Milk unions of Karnataka participated in the event. 50000 farmers also joined the event virtually at 1000 Village level camps organized through Common Service Centers. The Officials from Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, Department and Dairy farmers from various dairy co-operatives also participated virtually in the event.