He was addressing nearly one lakh people, mostly cattle rearers and farmers, gathered at the Narendra Modi stadium in Motera area of Ahmedabad for the golden jubilee celebration of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF)
Giving an overview of India's booming dairy sector, Modi said it is growing at a rate of 6 per cent per annum while the global dairy sector is growing at 2 per cent
"At present, Amul (GCMMF) is the world's eighth biggest dairy sector company. You all need to make it the world's biggest dairy company. My government is with you in this endeavour, and it is Modi's guarantee," the PM said in his address
He was accompanied by Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and state BJP president CR Paatil
"Amul was established as Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union under the guidance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and later on the GCMMF came into existence. The GCMMF is a model which showcases how the cooperative sector and government can work together. Thanks to that model, India has become the world's biggest milk producer today," PM Modi said
"In ten years, India's per capita availability of milk has increased by 40 per cent. While the world's dairy sector is growing at 2 per cent, India's growth rate is 6 per cent," he added
PM Modi said the Indian dairy sector's total turnover stands at Rs 10 lakh crore, much higher than the combined turnover of paddy, wheat and sugarcane production
"Women are at the forefront in this sector. Of the total workforce engaged in the dairy sector, 70 per cent are women. Amul has reached new heights because of the contribution of women. To make India a developed country, it is necessary to increase women's financial power," he said
The prime minister said of all the brands which have emerged in India after independence, 'Amul' is the most popular one
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