New Delhi : Aiming to double farmers’ income in the next five years, the Centre is chalking out a national action plan to attract more foreign investment in the dairy sector.
The Department of Animal Husbandry under the aegis of Agriculture Ministry is holding a series of discussion with private players in this regard.”We are preparing a national action plan to boost FDI in dairy sector. We want FDI in this sector in such a format that our farmers are benefited and their income goes up,” Animal Husbandry Secretary Devendra Chaudhury told PTI. The plan is to increase foreign investment in the dairy sector in the next five years from the current level of around Rs 141 crore, he said. Last week, the department held the first round of discussion on the issue with private players including Amul, Mother Dairy, Paras and others. Chaudhury said these companies have been asked to submit their inputs on the issue within two weeks, which will be again deliberated in the next meeting. At present, FDI is allowed in most aspects of dairy sector, including machines and equipment. Recently, the government relaxed norms for FDI in animal husbandry by allowing research in non-controlled conditions as well.
