The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, successfully organized a workshop on ‘Sustainability and Circularity in the Dairy Sector’ on March 3, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh emphasized the importance of circularity and sustainability in the dairy sector, stating that biofuel production from cow dung will increase farmers' income. He highlighted that out of India’s 530 million livestock population, 300 million are cows and buffaloes, providing an abundant supply of dung. This resource can be converted into organic fertilizers, biofuels, and other productive uses. The minister also praised the government’s efforts to organize and modernize the dairy sector while underscoring the importance of a sustainable economy, renewable energy, and public-private partnerships (PPP).
DAHD Secretary, Smt. Alka Upadhyaya, reiterated that India is regarded as the ‘Dairy of the World’, contributing 30% to the agricultural Gross Value Added (GVA). She emphasized the need for sustainable dairy solutions and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to integrating circular economy principles into the sector. She also announced that NDDB’s new financial plan will facilitate the large-scale implementation of various manure management models over the next decade.
Three Key Sustainability Models: Under the leadership of the Government of India and NDDB, significant manure management initiatives have been launched. These include: Jakariapura Model
Banas Model, Varanasi Model, These models focus on establishing cow dung as a valuable commodity, much like milk, promoting sustainability and circularity in the dairy sector while ensuring green growth and economic benefits for farmers.
Key Discussions at the Workshop: The workshop featured discussions on policy frameworks and financial mechanisms to enhance sustainability and circularity in the dairy sector. Key topics included:
