In a text message on the inauguration of a two-day Dairy Summit-2022 organised in Balangir on Wednesday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the state government was promoting dairy sector with suitable policies as it has a potential to create huge job opportunities in rural areas and additional income for farmers.

With new technologies, products and processes in place, dairy forming is also attracting young entrepreneurs to set up startups, Naveen Patnaik noted.

Speaking on the occasion, , Chanchal Rana, Collector and District Magistrate, Balangir said milk production can provide a sustainable income to the farmers and help in doubling their income, thereby enabling the administration to prevent migration in the district. Along with this, Balangir district aims to be considered as the first district in the country in the field of milk production within the next five years.

The dignitaries present at the inaugural ceremony are Dr. Saroj Kumar Sahu, General Manager, Balangir-Kalahandi-Nuapada Regional Milk Union, Smt. Sima Patel, President, Balangir-Kalahandi-Nuapada Regional Milk Union, Devaki Sahu, Chairman, Zilla Parisad, Shri Ashish Sinha, Managing Director, Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation, Dr. Dr. Suresh Dalai, Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), ND, Sambalpur, Odisha and Asit Tripathi, Chairman, Western Odisha Development Council, Dr. Praveen Malik, Chief Executive Officer, Agrinnovate Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India., Dr. Digamber Nayak, Joint Director, Odisha Biological Products Institute and General Manager Cuttack Milk Union, Dr. Sarada Prasanna Sahoo, Director, Central Cattle Breeding Farms, Sambalpur, Odisha, Department of Dairying and Animal Husbandry, Govt. of India. They spoke regarding milk production and highly appreciated the initiative taken by Balangir District Administration.

This conference will promote about 6,500 cooperative societies and 3 lakh dairy farmers in the state to produce milk, informed the district administration.

The programme was held in two phases and included guest speeches, networking forums and discussions on various case studies. About 2,000 people from various parts of the state and the country related to cow husbandry were present and exhibited their products. Young entrepreneurs who have contributed to development in the field of government and achieved success were felicitated.