New Delhi, 29 October (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a two-day visit to Gujarat on October 30 and 31, during which he will inaugurate three major dairy and food-processing projects with a combined investment of Rs 407.56 crore. The initiatives are aimed at strengthening animal breeding, modernising dairy logistics and expanding value-added agricultural processing.

The projects are located in Bhildi, Palanpur and Sanadar and are associated with Banas Dairy, one of Gujarat’s prominent dairy cooperatives. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre (BBBRC) in Bhildi in person, while the automated storage facility in Palanpur and the French fries processing plant at Sanadar will be inaugurated virtually.

The largest of the three projects is the BBBRC, developed at a cost of Rs 324.77 crore across 127 acres in Bhildi, Banaskantha district. Conceived as a Centre of Excellence for animal breeding, the facility is intended to advance genetic improvement and encourage scientific innovation in India’s livestock sector.

Under the Centre’s Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Rs 38.83 crore has been sanctioned for the centre, including Rs 2 crore for donor animals. The facility receives technical support from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and has been approved under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), with financial backing from NABARD.

The second project is an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) at Palanpur, constructed at a cost of Rs 31.14 crore. Designed to streamline the storage and dispatch of ultra-high-temperature (UHT) dairy products, the facility uses a high-speed, automated and traceable warehousing system.

Developed in-house by Banas Dairy, the facility features nine levels of steel racks and can accommodate 11,000 pallets. The cooperative expects the system to improve operational efficiency and generate savings and additional revenue for its approximately 4.18 lakh milk producers. The technology can also be adapted for storing other dairy products.

The third project, a French fries processing plant at Sanadar, has been established at a cost of Rs 51.65 crore. Located in Deodar taluka, the facility is part of the cooperative’s effort to expand agricultural value addition and create stronger links between potato cultivation, processing and consumer markets.

Work to increase the plant’s production capacity from two tonnes to five tonnes per hour began in April 2026. Banas Dairy has developed an integrated production chain covering plantlet development in laboratories, seed cultivation, cold storage of potatoes, processing and final delivery. The model is intended to strengthen the cooperative’s presence in food processing while creating additional opportunities for farmers.

During the visit,PM Modi will also virtually lay the foundation stones for two Bio-CNG plants at Tharad and Radhanpur. These facilities will use cattle dung to produce vehicle fuel and organic fertiliser, offering livestock farmers an additional source of income while supporting cleaner energy production.

The proposed plant at Tharad will have the capacity to process 75 metric tonnes of cow dung, while the Radhanpur facility will handle 100 metric tonnes. Banas Dairy currently operates four Bio-CNG plants and plans to expand its network with the two new units.

The projects reflect a broader effort to combine modern technology with cooperative-led development in dairy farming, animal husbandry and agricultural processing. By improving breeding infrastructure, strengthening cold-chain and storage systems, and converting livestock waste into useful products, the initiatives are expected to support more sustainable livelihoods for farmers.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Gujarat Legislative Assembly Speaker and Banas Dairy Chairman Shankar Chaudhary are among those expected to attend the event. Representatives of the dairy cooperative sector, government officials, elected representatives and milk producers from Banaskantha district will also be present.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar