Ahmedabad, Dec 6 (NationPress) Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched various novel initiatives focused on enhancing farmers’ earnings during an event at Sanadar Dairy in Diyodar taluka, Banaskantha district, Gujarat on Saturday.

Throughout his visit, Minister Shah evaluated the Banas Radio Station, the Potato Plant, and the Ice Cream Plant. He engaged in discussions with members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee and the Board of Directors of Banas Dairy.

Shah pointed out that the cooperative model embraced by Banas Dairy has emerged as a source of inspiration both nationally and internationally.

He paid tribute to the late founder, Galbabha, whose vision was fulfilled through the dedication of local farmers. Starting in 1986 with milk collection from just eight village societies, Banas Dairy has escalated to a turnover of Rs 24,000 crore, a journey that commenced with merely Rs 400, attributing this monumental success to the unwavering commitment of local farmers.

Shah also reminisced that many years ago, the Banaskantha region was viewed as drought-stricken with agriculture reliant solely on rainfall.

“With initiatives like Sujalam-Sufalam and the Narmada Canal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has empowered farmers towards self-sufficiency. Today, farmers in Banaskantha can harvest three crops each year, demonstrating effective water conservation and the hard work of local women, which has turned the Banas model into a flourishing tree of prosperity,” he remarked.

Shah added that under the Ministry of Cooperation's guidance, ongoing rural development projects aim to reinforce the dairy's circular economy. Farmers are projected to experience a 20 percent income increase over the next five years.

He stated that the government is striving to unify cooperative efforts across various sectors, allowing village farmers to market their products globally.

“By January 2026, chairpersons and MDs from around 250 dairies nationwide will visit Banaskantha to learn about the Banas model up close,” he mentioned.

On the remembrance day of Babasaheb Ambedkar, Amit Shah also recognized the contributions of Vallabhbhai Patel and the government’s initiatives for farmers’ welfare.

Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary stressed that the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation post-independence has significantly uplifted rural communities. Thanks to government initiatives, farmers now benefit from 24-hour electricity and water supply, enhancing livelihoods throughout the region.

Cooperative societies, under Minister Shah’s leadership, have expanded on a national level, allowing farmers to sell products in international markets, with a turnover of Rs 4,283 crore achieved within just one year. The government has also introduced initiatives like India Organic to assist farmers and extend cooperative models to various sectors.

Ministers Pravinbhai Mali and Jitubhai Waghani, along with Murlidhar Mohol, Krishnapal Gurjar, Ashish Bhutani (Secretary of Cooperation), Suzuki India MD and Directors, Amul Chairman Ashok Chaudhary, and a large assembly of dairy farmers, participated in the event.