Cattle breeders and farmer families across the Banaskantha district thronged the venue despite the high temperature. On the occasion the Chief Minister expressed resolve to put Gujarat on the forefront in the field of dairy and animal husbandry.
Greeting the people on the occasion Mr Modi said the farmers of Banaskantha has earned proud to Gujarat in the field of milk production besides in agriculture, as they are getting benefits of Narmada water and Sujalam Sufalam Yojana.
He gave outlines of the state government’s mechanism for providing nutritional fodder to the animals, increasing their milk productivity and taking care of their health.
The chief minister said the milk collection in Banas dairy has increased from 3.5 lakh liters in 2001 to 35 lakh liters now. “Is this not development? But it’s futile to expect that those who defame Gujarat by spreading lies will ever change their mindset. The people of Gujarat has already taught them lesson”, he said.
Mr Modi said that people have ignored the jalyatra took out by the Opposition leaders as it was meant for stirring up the sentiments of the farmers of Saurashtra in the name of water. People have full faith on the state government’s efforts of providing Narmada water. “People across villages did not support the Congress’s jalyatra. But these people have trust on the present government as it has focused on water rather than electricity and encouraged farmers to use drip irrigation for yielding higher production”, he said.
He called upon farmers to bring the Banaskantha district on the top in the country in using drip irrigation.
Chief Minister said the Gujarat government has organized over 30,000 cattle health fair and eradicated about 121 cattle diseases. The government has also provided dental treatment to the animals and done their cataract operations. “Now the animals will be given orthopedic treatments too”, he said. Due to the cattle health initiatives the milk production has increased by a record 68%, he added.
Criticizing the Centre’s anti-farmer policy Mr Modi said that Gujarat has initiated in the direction of milk storage by setting up bulk milk chilling plant, while crores of tons of food grains getting rotten in the central government’s godowns because of lake of proper storage facilities, despite the fact that food grains can be stored for a longer time than the milk. Even as the Supreme Court has issued order for immediately distributing these food grains to the poor, this stock has been sold to liquor making factories at trifle prices, he said.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the state-wide Krishi Mahotsav, which will take place from the next day of Akhatrij, and the International Agri-tech festival which will be organized biennially from the year 2014 with a view to acquaint farmers with the best innovations in the field of agro-technology.
Minister in-charge for Banaskantha and the finance minister Nitin Patel, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Babubhai Bokhiriya, Minister of State for Health Parbat Patel, Minister of State for Animal Husbandry Liladhar Vghela, MLA Shankar Chaudhary and the Chairman of National Dairy Development Board Dr Amruta Patel gave details of the development in the field of agriculture, water management and rural development that took place during last decade under the leadership of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Banas dairy Chairman Parathibhai Bhatol welcomed the Chief Minister and the invitees and gave outlines of the cattle-feed plant.
