National Milk Day 2022: Significance, history, and legacy of Dr. Verghese Kurien
National Milk Day 2022: Significance, history, and legacy of Dr. Verghese Kurien
On 26November, National Milk Day is observed throughout India in honour of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the man credited with spearheading the whiterevolution. He was a key player in 'Operation Flood',which boosted India's dairy industry towards the status of the country's largest self-sustainingindustry.
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National Milk Day has beenobserved in India since2014 under the initiative taken by the Indian Dairy Association (IDA).
Significance of the day
According to the Economic Survey of India 2021-2022, India is ranked first in milk production and contributes about 23per cent of global milk production. Not just that, Dairy is the single largest agricultural commodity that contributes 5 per cent to the national economy,employing more than 8 crore farmers directly.
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Milk production in India has grown at a rate of 6.2 per cent annually, and all of this is achieved todaybecause of Dr. Verghese Kurien's initiative in making Indian self-sufficient in milk production. His idea doubled the milk available for each person and increased milk output four-fold in 30 years. He started the production of milk powder from buffalo milk instead of from cow milk, which was in short supply in India.
Who was Dr. Verghese Kurien?
He was born in Kozhikode, Kerala, on 26November 1921, to a wealthy Syrian Christian family. Due to his leadership of Operation Flood,the largest agricultural programme in the world, Dr. Kurien is known as the "Father of the White Revolution" in India.
In order to fix the prices charged, he helped organise the Delhi Milk Scheme and formed 30 organisations, all that was managedby farmers and employees.He is credited with industrialising dairy production and founding the Amul brand. Due to Dr. Kurien's work, India surpassed the US to become the world'slargest milk production in 1998.
Dr. Kurien has received numerous awards, including the Krishi Ratna, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, and the World Food Prize. He has earned the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan, India's three highest civilian honours.
What is 'Operation Flood'?
Operation Flood, which was started in 1970, has assisted dairy farmers in managing their own development and taking ownership of the resources they produce.A National Milk Grid connects customers in more than 700 towns and cities with milk farmers across India, minimising seasonal and regional price differences while ensuring that the producer consistently receives fair market rates in a transparent manner.
Village milk producers' cooperatives, that purchase milk,offer inputs and services, and give members access to contemporary management and technology, have formed the foundation of Operation Flood. The goals ofOperation Flood included:
1. Increase milk production ('aflood of milk')
2. Augment rural incomes
3. Reasonable prices for consumers