Cargill has inaugurated a new Rs.88 crore feed plant in Bathinda, Punjab in the presence of the Honorable Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal and the Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Sukhbir Singh Badal. In India, where the population is largely vegetarian, dairy is a primary source of protein. Milk-based paneer, ghee, yogurt and sauces are all staples of daily life, making the country both the largest consumer and the largest producer of dairy in the world. This new plant is a testament of Cargill's commitment to support the growth and development of the booming dairy industry and its farming community in India.

The plant will provide consistently high-quality, nutritious and safe feed to dairy farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It will produce 10,000 metric tons of feed per month and feed 75,000 cows per day.

Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Shri Sukhbir Singh Badal said, "We believe this new dairy feed plant will provide quality feed and introduce latest know-how which will help our dairy farmers earn better yields and contribute to the progress of Punjab. We expect Cargill to share their global experience with the region's farmers which will help put Punjab on a global map with other leading model dairy regions across the world."

In 2008, Cargill's animal nutrition business began working with dairy farmers in the country to optimize farm management techniques and boost milk productivity. Every week, the company sent a team of veterinarians and sales personnel to share its expertise, conduct farmer group meetings and raise awareness of ways to increase productivity. Working with dairy operations of all sizes – from five cows to 100 – Cargill teams educated nearly 30,000 farmers on nutrition and farm management best practices in 2014 alone.

Achyuth Iyengar, Managing Director for Cargill's complete feed and nutrition business in India stated: "We have been catering to the Punjab dairy farmer for more than 10 years now. The continued trust of the dairy farmers in our feed products has encouraged us to build and invest in this new facility. Through this plant, we will be able to expand our supply of high-quality, safe and nutritious feed and services in the state of Punjab."

Cargill prides itself as a company that places the safety of its employees and contractors above all else. During the 14 months of construction, a team comprising of nearly 400 employees and contractors clocked in more than 700,000 safe working hours with zero injuries.

"I'm proud of this remarkable team and their ability to plan, train and execute on our company's safety procedures. Through their relentless focus, nearly 400 people were able to return home safely to their families every day during this project," said Jamie Dolynchuk, global business development director for Cargill's premix and nutrition business.

In a country that depends on dairy, Cargill's expertise and dedication to India's milk industry is clear. The company continues its innovative efforts to provide the best solutions for farmers, their herds and their customers.

Source: Cargill