The IDF World Dairy Summit will provide a forum to the industry experts to share knowledge and ideas on how the sector can contribute to nourish the world with safe and sustainable dairying
International Dairy Federation’s World Dairy Summit 2022 will be organised in Greater Noida Expo Centre, near New Delhi from September 12-15, 2022. Dairy industry stakeholders from over 40 countries would participate and work towards ways to further develop the dairy industry, this was informed at a curtain raiser event in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Chairing the event, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Sanjeev Balyan expressed his delight over India hosting the World Dairy Summit after 48 years. “It is a matter of great delight that India has got the opportunity to host the World Dairy Summit after 48 years,” said Dr Balyan while speaking at the curtain raiser event.
“The world’s growth rate in this sector is just two per cent, while the growth rate in our country is six per cent. The growth rate in this sector in India will further grow in the near future,” Balyan added. The Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying further said India is currently at the No.1 position in the world in milk production. “Our production is 21 crore tonnes per annum. The availability of milk in the world is 310 gram per day, while we are at 427 gram per day. So, there is a big positive difference,” he added. Underlining that the dairy sector in India is led by cooperatives, Balyan said this sector is linked with employment generation in rural India.
Speaking on the occasion, Meenesh Shah, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board and the member secretary of Indian National Committee of IDF said, “Dairy sector is the most important sector to boost the rural economy of India as it provides income opportunities to about eight crore farmers that is why World Dairy Summit is significant to the stakeholders in India.” Not only the farmers but even the landless farmers are linked with dairy. Milk is an important means of livelihood in our country, Shah said. Shah informed that the theme for the summit is “livelihood and nutrition” as the farmers in our country derive better remuneration from animal husbandry and dairying activities.
He said, “Milk and milk products, we all know, provide a lot of nutrition considering that we have a large number of vegetarian populations in our country. Milk and milk products play a very important role in providing nutrients to rural people. And as the theme of the WDS is based on nutrition, we expect that participants from 40-45 countries and a large number of farmers to be part of the event.” “After the inauguration on the first day of the World Dairy Summit, we will have a special session for the farmers as farmers are our focus area,” he added.
Atul Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying said, “The World Dairy Summit is the first physical event post-Covid by the International Dairy Federation. The last event was held in 2019.” “We will get the benefit of experience of the International Dairy Federation and the world leaders on dairy who will come to India and the country will benefit by learning from them what they do for the dairy sector and it will also be a great opportunity for India to showcase its achievements in the dairy sector,” he added.
Piercristiano Brazzale, the President of International Dairy Federation (IDF), said India is the most important country in the world in the dairy sector. Underlining that IDF is a “global organisation”, Brazzale said, “IDF care about all the dairy chain and we give all science-based support to the dairy sector.”
“I want to announce a new IDF Award in Innovation. The award will be given on the 12th of September – the first day of the World Dairy Summit 2022. We will give the award in 12 categories,” he added.
Caroline Emond, Director General, IDF, said the World Dairy Summit will be a great opportunity for dairy farmers, leaders, experts, scientists, professionals and academics to connect, learn and get inspired. “India’s success story of women empowerment will be shared with the world through the World Dairy Summit where we can learn that dairy is an engine of development in India,” she added. World Dairy Summit will provide a window for the world to see the Indian dairy sector, Emond said.