Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday described dairy development as the backbone of the rural economy, highlighting Uttar Pradesh’s leading position in milk production.Speaking at an event at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Yogi said the dairy sector was playing a key role in boosting rural incomes and employment.The event marked the conclusion of the Dairy Development Department’s two-day ‘Dugdh Swarn Mahotsav 2026’, organised to commemorate 50 years of the department with a focus on milk production, rural prosperity and investment in the sector.Additional chief secretary Mukesh Kumar Meshram stressed the importance of indigenous cattle breeds in strengthening the rural economy, while dairy commissioner Dhanalakshmi K outlined govt initiatives aimed at retaining Uttar Pradesh’s top position in milk output.Officials said the department has so far signed 796 MoUs involving investments of over Rs 25,000 crore, which are expected to generate nearly 60,000 employment opportunities across the state.During the event, 59 fresh MoUs worth over Rs 3,000 crore were signed with leading dairy players, including Ananda Dairy, Gyan Dairy and Param Dairy. These investments are projected to create around 13,000 new jobs.A govt spokesperson said the dairy sector contributed an estimated Rs 1.72 lakh crore to Uttar Pradesh’s gross value addition, underlining its significance in the state’s rural economy.Under the Nand Baba Milk Mission, more than 10,000 beneficiaries have received Rs 84 crore through direct benefit transfer, officials said. In addition, over 4,000 new primary dairy cooperative societies have been formed across the state, benefiting around 1.5 lakh dairy producers directly or indirectly.
