Meeting highlights livestock farmers, dairy cooperation and rural self-reliance
New Delhi/Gandhinagar: Gujarat Legislative Assembly Speaker and Banas Dairy chairman Shankar Chaudhary met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, with discussions covering agriculture, cooperation, nature, dairy and issues affecting livestock farmers.
Sharing details of the meeting on social media platform X, Chaudhary described his interaction with the Prime Minister as cordial and said discussions focused on matters connected with farmers, livestock rearers and rural communities.
Focus on livestock farmers and milk imports
Chaudhary highlighted the government’s focus on protecting the interests of farmers and livestock rearers. He particularly referred to India’s continued restrictions on milk imports, saying the policy has helped safeguard the interests of domestic livestock farmers despite pressures from global markets.
The dairy sector remains closely connected to rural livelihoods across Gujarat, where cooperative institutions play an important role in collecting, processing and marketing milk produced by farmers.
According to Chaudhary, the government has continued to prioritise policies aimed at strengthening the economic position of livestock farmers and supporting rural communities.
GOBARdhan scheme highlighted
The Gujarat Assembly Speaker also referred to the Centre’s GOBARdhan scheme, describing it as an important initiative aimed at improving the economic sustainability of livestock farmers.
He said the programme, with an investment of more than Rs 23,000 crore, represents a major step towards helping livestock farmers become more self-reliant.
The GOBARdhan initiative focuses on converting cattle dung and other organic waste into useful resources such as biogas, compressed biogas and organic manure. Such approaches can potentially create additional sources of income for livestock-owning households while supporting cleaner agricultural practices.
| Key area | Focus of discussion |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Farmers and rural development |
| Dairy | Domestic dairy sector and milk imports |
| Livestock | Interests and livelihoods of livestock rearers |
| Cooperation | Strengthening cooperative institutions |
| GOBARdhan | Livestock waste utilisation and self-reliance |
| Rural economy | Supporting farmers and village communities |
Tharad connection brings local craftsmanship to Delhi
The meeting also highlighted Chaudhary’s connection with Tharad in Gujarat. He presented Prime Minister Modi with a handcrafted shawl produced by women from the Tharad region.
Chaudhary said the shawl represented the skills and spirit of self-reliance of women in the area. He added that the Prime Minister’s reception of the handmade gift was a matter of pride for the women involved in its production.
The gesture also brought attention to rural women’s skills and handicrafts, areas that can provide additional livelihood opportunities alongside agriculture and livestock farming.
Banas Dairy leadership adds significance
Chaudhary’s role in Gujarat’s cooperative dairy sector gives the meeting particular significance for the dairy industry. In addition to serving as Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, he is chairman of Banas Dairy, one of the state’s major cooperative dairy institutions.
He became Speaker in December 2022 after being elected from the Tharad constituency in the 2022 Gujarat Assembly elections. He had earlier represented Radhanpur and Vav and served in ministerial positions in the Gujarat government.
In October 2025, Chaudhary was re-elected unopposed as Banas Dairy chairman for a third consecutive term.
Banas Dairy, headquartered in Banaskantha, is an important cooperative institution serving dairy farmers in northern Gujarat. Its activities connect milk producers with organised procurement, processing and dairy markets.
Dairy cooperation remains central to rural livelihoods
The meeting comes as the dairy sector continues to face changing global market conditions, while governments and cooperative institutions seek to strengthen domestic milk production and farmer incomes.
With Chaudhary holding both a senior legislative position and a leadership role within the cooperative dairy sector, the discussions underline the continued importance of agriculture, livestock and dairy cooperation in Gujarat’s rural economy.
The interaction between the Prime Minister and Gujarat Assembly Speaker therefore brought together several interconnected priorities: strengthening livestock farmers, supporting cooperative institutions, promoting rural self-reliance and encouraging sustainable use of livestock resources.
