National Milk Day is being celebrated today to honour the 103rd birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, fondly remembered as the Father of the White Revolution in India. Gujarat, considered the cradle of India’s White Revolution, has witnessed significant growth in milk production over the years. The state’s milk production increased by 119.63 lakh metric tons in the last 22 years, with an average increase of 10.23 per cent.

The state contributes 7.49 per cent to India’s total milk production. During the last 22 years, milk production in the state has increased by 119.63 lakh metric tons, with an average increase of 10.23 percent which is more than the country’s average growth in milk production.  An unprecedented rise has also been seen in the per capita availability of milk in the state during the last 22 years Amul Federation, which was started with only 6 member unions and a turnover of Rs. 49 crore, currently has 18 member unions in Gujarat. Through these 18 member unions, Amul Federation collects more than 3 crore litres of milk from across the state every day and prepares various products from it which are sold across India and in about 50 different countries. The Amul model of dairy development has made India proud worldwide by creating a self-reliant model for the socio-economic development of livestock farmers. Gujarat Government’s decision to set up a “Sexed Semen Laboratory” at Patan is also proving beneficial to ensure the birth of good quality calves.