PIB Summary- 8th March, 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Golden Jubilee Celebration of GCMMF and Amul’s Success: Prime Minister’s Highlights

Context
The Prime Minister participated in the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) and emphasized the remarkable success of Anand Milk Union Limited (Amul), which is a product of GCMMF.

Evolution of Amul: Nurturing the White Revolution

• Established in 1946 as the Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Limited in Anand, Gujarat.
• Founded by Tribhuvandas Patel with crucial support from Morarji Desai and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• In 1950, transitioned into Amul (Anand Milk Union Limited), a brand representing cooperative-produced dairy products.

Cooperative Empowerment Model:

• Pioneered the Anand Pattern, an economic organizational model emphasizing collective action for small producers.
• The model integrates producers for scale benefits while preserving individual decision-making autonomy.

International Recognition:

• Amul’s success story became a global reference in cooperative economics and rural development.
• Garnered attention for effectively empowering small producers through a cooperative framework.

White Revolution Catalyst (1955 onwards):

• Integral role in India’s White Revolution, geared towards self-sufficiency in milk production.
• Initiated the White Revolution with the introduction of milk powder manufacturing in 1955.

Global Presence and Impact:

• Over 50 countries receive Amul products, highlighting its global export footprint.
• Network encompasses 18,000+ milk cooperative committees and 36,000+ farmers.
• Daily processing capacity of over 3.5 crore litres of milk and facilitating online payments exceeding Rs 200 crores to livestock breeders.

India’s White Revolution – Operation Flood: Transforming Dairy Dynamics

• National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), chaired by Verghese Kurien, established in 1965.
• Objective: Revolutionize India’s dairy sector through innovative strategies.

Launch of Operation Flood (1970):

• Operation Flood initiated in 1970, also known as the White Revolution.
• Inspired by the successful “Anand Pattern” to connect rural milk producers with urban consumers through cooperative models.

Key Achievements:

• India became the world’s largest milk producer.
• Significant enhancement in milk production and management efficiency.

Operational Phases:
Phase I (1970-1980):

• Financing through European Union’s milk powder and butter oil.
• Connected 18 milksheds with major cities.
• Laid the foundation for village cooperatives.

Phase II (1981-1985):

• Expanded to 136 milksheds and 290 urban markets.
• Established 43,000 village cooperatives, covering 4.25 million milk producers.
• Promoted self-reliance in milk powder production.

Phase III (1985-1996):

• Strengthened infrastructure for milk procurement and marketing.
• Emphasized veterinary healthcare, feed, and artificial insemination.
• Expanded to 30,000 new cooperatives, peaking at 173 milksheds.

Post-Operation Flood (1991 onwards):

• Liberalization reforms allowed private participation in the dairy sector.
• Introduction of Milk and Milk Products Order (MMPO) in 1992 for regulation and oversight.
• MMPO aimed at maintaining and increasing milk supply.

Industry Dynamics:

• Initial phase marked by unregulated dairies and concerns of adulteration.
• Growth in processing capacity driven by large private players.
• Sector witnessed significant expansion and modernization.

Current State of Indian Milk Production

• India ranks first globally in milk production, contributing 24% of the world’s output.
• Over the last decade, milk production has surged by nearly 60%, with a corresponding 40% increase in per capita milk availability.

Top Milk-Producing States:

• Leading states in milk production: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Rajasthan tops the list, emphasizing regional contributions.

Sector Growth and Global Comparison:

• Indian dairy sector experiences a robust 6% annual growth, surpassing the global average of 2%.

Dairy Exports (2022-23):

• India exported 67,572.99 Metric Tons (MT) of dairy products globally, valued at USD 284.65 million during 2022-23.

Challenges in the Indian Dairy Sector:

• Milk yield per animal in India falls below the global average.
• Attributed to factors like poor-quality feed, traditional cattle breeds, and inadequate veterinary care.

Logistical and Handling Challenges:

• Issues in milk collection, pasteurization, and transportation.
• Handling concerns in informal dairy setups impact milk safety.

Adulteration Concerns:

• Adulteration of milk remains a persistent challenge due to quality control difficulties.

Price Disparities:

• Milk producers receive lower purchase prices compared to market rates, affecting profit distribution in the value chain.

Livestock Health Issues:

• Frequent outbreaks of diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease, Black Quarter infection, and Influenza impact livestock health and productivity.

Crossbreeding Limitations:

• Limited success in crossbreeding indigenous species with exotic stocks to enhance genetic potential.

e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi

Context
Recently, the union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Commerce and Industry and Textiles launched ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ (Digital Gateway) in New Delhi.

e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi Platform: Facilitating Farmers’ Post-Harvest Storage

• Digital Gateway: e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi is a digital platform operated by the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA).
• Objective: It simplifies the process for farmers to store their produce at any registered WDRA warehouse for up to 6 months, offering an attractive 7% interest per annum.

Key Features:
Digital Process:

• The platform leverages digital technology for a streamlined and simplified process.
• Aims to alleviate distress sales by providing farmers with viable post-harvest storage options.

Interest Rate:

• Farmers opting for storage through this platform benefit from a competitive 7% interest per annum.

About Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA):

• WDRA was established under the Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007.
• Consists of one Chairperson and two full-time Members.

Mission:

• Establishment of a negotiable warehouse receipt system in the country.
• Promotion of warehouse receipts as a primary tool of trade and facilitation of finance against it.
• Improvement of the quality of lending portfolios for banks.
• Enhancement of interest in lending against goods stored in warehouses.

Functions:

• Issuance of negotiable warehouse receipts to help farmers secure loans from banks.
• Mitigation of distress sales during peak marketing seasons.
• Prevention of post-harvest storage losses.

Commodity Coverage:

• WDRA covers 136 agricultural commodities for issuing negotiable warehouse receipts, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, spices, rubber, tobacco, and coffee.
• Additionally, 24 horticultural commodities are covered for cold storage, along with 9 non-agricultural commodities.