In his maiden visit to Gujarat as the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee appreciated industrious and enterprising nature of Gujaratis and praised the socio-economic development in the State.
The President on Monday kickstarted his three-day visit to Gujarat and adjoining Union Territory Diu at an inauguration ceremony of cattle feed manufacturing plant of Amul Dairy at Kapadvaj town. Terming the people of Gujarat as industrious and enterprising, Mukherjee said he was glad to visit Gujarat, a vibrant State which has shown the way forward for comprehensive socio-economic development. He said the State has some of the largest industrial corporations while its agricultural growth is amongst the highest in the country. The government had prioritised its support for dairy sector through a National Daily Plan under which Rs 2,242 crore will be invested in the first phase, he added.
Terming Amul Cooperative movement as remarkable success triggering a socio-economic revolution in rural India, Mukherjee said that Amul is truly the pride of India and it is now the responsibility of the current generation of farmer leaders, professionals and stakeholders to expand the Amul movement that benefits farmers across the nation. According to him Amul model could help address problems in the other agriculture areas which are faced by our farming community.
The Amul plant inaugurated by the President is spread across 24 acres and has a capacity to produce 1000 tonnes of feed per day, expandable to 2000 tpd. With this latest plant set up with an investment of Rs 200 crore, the total feed making capacity under Amul is now 8,000 tonnes per day spread across 15 plants.
later, the President attended the first APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE Award at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The award is aimed to encourage children for innovation and initiated by National Innovation Foundation. On Tuesday, the President will attend two functions in Ahmedabad including convocation ceremony of Gandhian institute Gujarat Vidyapith and inauguration of a research centre at Sabarmati Ashram. He will also inaugurate Diu Festival at Union Territory Diu on the same day.