Amul Bengal Dairy Project Launch
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah performed the Bhoomi Pujan for the world's largest curd manufacturing plant under the Amul Bengal Dairy Project at New Town Convention Centre in Kolkata. The project represents a ₹700 crore investment in the Howrah Food Park, West Bengal, with complete operational capacity to process 30 lakh litres of milk per day. The plant will have daily production capacity of 10 lakh kilograms of curd and cultured dairy products, making it the world's largest curd manufacturing facility.
Production Capacity and Economic Impact
In its first phase, the plant will process 10 lakh litres of milk daily, directly benefiting approximately 1.20 lakh small milk producers and livestock rearers. The full production capacity includes 10 lakh litres of packaged milk, 2 lakh litres of UHT milk, 1 lakh litres of ice cream, 20 metric tonnes of paneer, 10 metric tonnes of ghee, 10 metric tonnes of sweets, and 2.5 lakh packs of flavoured milk daily. The cooperative model ensures that 87% of consumer spending on Amul products goes directly to farmers' bank accounts, meaning ₹87 of every ₹100 spent reaches livestock rearers directly.
Government Support and Infrastructure Development
The West Bengal government provided 30 acres of land free of cost to Amul Federation, enabling the project's implementation. Additionally, 10 cooperative warehouses with total capacity of 1,400 metric tonnes were inaugurated, providing farmers with safe storage facilities to reduce distress sales. The Registrar of Cooperative Societies office in West Bengal has been fully computerized, enabling mobile-based access to services for cooperative institutions.
Additional Initiatives Announced
The Government of India will establish an animal breed improvement initiative in Bengal including a Sex-Sorted Semen facility to enhance dairy productivity. An MoU was signed to connect Bengal's taxis with Bharat Taxi under the "Sarathi" concept, making drivers owners and shareholders of both vehicles and the company. The Ministry of Cooperation will implement more than 70 farmer-welfare schemes in West Bengal within the next six months.
Long-term Vision
The project aims to ensure that within 15 years, every livestock-rearing household in West Bengal has at least two animals of improved breeds yielding 25% more milk than current levels. The state's agricultural potential is highlighted by available water resources at 100-200 feet depth compared to 1,200 feet in some parts of Gujarat, providing favorable conditions for dairy expansion.