PM Modi also inspected an exhibition at the summit venue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit (IDF WDS) 2022, being organised at India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida. He also inspected an exhibition at the venue.
Union Minister Purshottam Rupala, addressing the World Diary Summit 2022, said that it has been organised in India after 48 years.
"World Diary Summit has been organized after over 48 years in India. Our milk production is 220 million tonnes today. We are in the position to export surplus milk, in line with the 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat," he said.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, the four-day-long IDF WDS 2022 -- being held from September 12 to 15, is a congregation of global and Indian dairy stakeholders including industry leaders, experts, farmers and policy planners, centring around the theme of 'Dairy for Nutrition and Livelihood'.
Around 1,500 participants from 50 countries are expected to participate in IDF WDS 2022. The last such summit was held in India about half a century ago in 1974.
"The Indian dairy industry is unique in the sense that it is based on a cooperative model that empowers small and marginal dairy farmers, especially women. Driven by the vision of the Prime Minister, the government has taken multiple steps for the betterment of the dairy sector resulting in an increase of milk production by more than 44 per cent in the last eight years," said the PMO.
"The success story of the Indian dairy industry, accounting for about 23 per cent of global milk, producing around 210 million tonnes annually, and empowering more than 8 crore dairy farmers, will be showcased at the IDF WDS 2022," it said.
The summit will also help Indian dairy farmers to gain exposure about global best practices.
Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and others were present.
The evolution of the dairy sector in India and the stellar role played by dairy cooperatives since the launch of Operation Flood form an integral part of the country's growth story as the country now is the largest producer of milk.
India contributes 21 per cent to global milk production.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)