B Tech degree in dairy technology programme launched in memory of Vergese Kurien

Updated on: Monday, July 01, 2013

An academic centre, which will offer B Tech degree in dairy technology programme, has been launched here in memory of Vergese Kurien, the Father of Indian White Revolution.

The Centre will be managed by Mehsana District Co-perative Milk Producers Union, also known as Dudhsagar Dairy.

Speaking at a funtion to the launch the Centre, Nirmala Kurien, daughter of Vergese Kurien, said the government must take more policy measures to nurture and protect the milk producers.

"Milk is one agricultural produce that contributes the most to the agri-GDP of India. It is therefore only rightful that the government does everything in its power to help, nurture and protect milk producers," she said.

Vergese Kurien, former Chairman of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which owns Amul brand, Vergese Kurien, passed away last year.

"He (Dr Kurien) was in the business of developing people and milk was only a tool. ...My father believed in empowering the farmers and he never doubted farmers' ability to work hard and produce more and more if there was a market."

She further said that her father believed that the cooperative model was the only answer to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots in the country.

Recalling Varghese Kurien's contribution to the sector, GCMMF and Dudhsagar Dairy Chairman Vipul Chaudhury suggested that Vergese Kurien should be honoured with Bharatratna for his contribution to the dairy sector.

Dairy products manufacturer Amul started with a meager collection of 250 litres milk per day, she added.

"At the time there existed Nestle, Cadbury, Polsuns, Unilever, Horlicks but today Amul is synonymous with milk and it is the largest producer of milk and milk products and it is owned by farmers," she added.

Speaking on the occasion, GCMMF Managing Director R S Sodhi said, "Coming three decades will be a golden period for milk producers in the country because the supply is stagnant in other parts of the world. There is scope for India to tap the rising demand."

Country's milk production stood at 133 million tonnes last year.

B Tech degree in dairy technology programme launched in memory of Vergese Kurien

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