World Dairy Summit: Among visitors exploring startup path, couple in IT firm, professor, contractor

GREATER NOIDA: The Vermas, a couple employed with a software company in Noida, took leave from work to attend the World Dairy Summit on Tuesday. At the stall of the central government's animal husbandry department, the couple was among the most invested visitors, enquiring about schemes to start a dairy farm.
Like the Vermas, several others with no involvement in the dairy trade have visited the summit over the last two days and made enquiries at the stall, their interest bringing smiles to industry representatives who see the summit not only as a platform for sharing knowledge and technological advancements but also widening its ambit.
Manish Verma (39) told TOI, “For years, we have been doing the same job, but now, we want to spend our time doing something for nation building. When we read in the news about the summit, we decided to spend time here to understand the various aspects of the dairy business and the use of technology for doing the business scientifically.”
His wife, Nitika (37), said, “I am from Bijnor district, where my father had four cows and would sell the excess milk after meeting family needs. After doing a corporate job in the marketing department for 12 years, I feel it is time to live more organically and help rural communities grow.”
If there is hand-holding from the government and other private experts, the couple plans to leave their jobs to pursue their dream.
Another enthusiast, SS Bhadauria, a professor of botany from Kanpur, travelled all the way to Greater Noida for the summit on Tuesday. “I will soon start a dairy farm. I am here to understand the new trends and the government schemes to help set up new dairy farms and give other technical support,” Bhadauria said.
The stall organisers said that since Monday, over 50 people, who did not have experience in the dairy sector, have enquired about starting a dairy farm business.
Gautam Srivastava, answering queries at the stall, said, “People are curious about government schemes to support dairy, livestock and other businesses. The government is running the National Programme for Dairy Development to enhance milk quality, and increase the share of organised procurement. Similarly, the livestock health and disease control programme aims to improve animal health.”
The government would also provide monetary support for breed multiplication farms for scientific breeding of high-yielding milch animals to people who own land or have land on lease for sheds for cows, feed rooms, dairy equipment, etc.
Suresh Gambhir, a building contractor who owns a farmhouse on the outskirts of Delhi, said, “I am visiting to get information to start a dairy farm with 2-4 animals.”