Surendra Awana, a resident of Bhairana village in Dungarpur district of Rajasthan, has done such innovation in dairy farming, which has become a source of inspiration for farmers and cattle rearers. Through his efforts, he not only restored the importance of indigenous cows, but also encouraged the farmers of his village and state. His hard work and dedication has earned him national recognition.
Beginning and challenges
Surendra started his dairy farming journey with two Gir breed cows. In the initial days, there were problems like lack of water, unavailability of improved breeds, and low productivity of cows. Surendra faced these challenges with his limited resources.
He told,
“In the beginning we went through a lot of difficulties. But I decided that my goal would be to improve the indigenous cows and make it a source of economic profit.”
Use of latest technologies
Surendra used the latest technologies in dairy farming. After the Prime Minister approved sex sorted semen technology in 2018, he successfully used it in his farm. As a result, 240 female calves have been born so far and 90 cows have successfully undergone pregnancy tests.
Apart from this, he focused on organic green fodder production. Cultivation of 24 types of perennial green fodder is the specialty of his farm. Milk parlor of Delevel company is used to extract milk from his 32 cows.
Interview
Surendra said,
“We focused on breed improvement of indigenous cows. Due to improved fodder, better management and modern techniques, the milk production of our cows has now increased manifold. We not only sell milk, but also process the products made from it and sell them in the market.”
Benefits of government schemes
Surendra received assistance under the National Kamdhenu Yojana and National Gokul Mission Yojana. His Rs 4 crore project touched new heights in dairy farming. He said,
“We got a lot of help from the government schemes. If farmers make proper use of these schemes, their income from dairy farming can increase by four to eight times.”
Economic and social impact
Surendra’s dairy farming proved to be beneficial not only for him but also for the farmers around him. Every day 500 liters of milk is processed from his farm. Milk products such as cheese, ghee, curd and butter are sold locally and state level.
“The demand for our products has increased so much that now we have to increase our production capacity. This has also increased employment opportunities in our village,” he said.
Awards and honours
Surendra has been honoured with many prestigious awards for his contributions, such as:
1. Rashtriya Gopal Ratna Award 2021
2. Rashtriya Haldhar Organic Award 2019
3. State Level Pashupalak Pratham Puraskar 2023 by Rajasthan Government
4. Jagjivan Ram Innovative Farmer Award 2021 by ICAR
Inspiration to farmers
Surendra also inspired other farmers with his efforts. He spread the advanced sorted semen and indigenous cow rearing techniques to other farmers. About 5,000 farmers visit his farm every year.
Future plans of Surendra Awana
Surendra aims to develop his farm as a sustainable model that inspires other farmers to adopt dairy and organic farming practices. He envisions integrating advanced technologies and clean energy sources to enhance milk production and processing efficiency. Additionally, he dreams of transforming his farm into an agriculture training center, where young farmers can learn modern farming and dairy techniques. His goal is to lead the way in sustainable agriculture and create a positive impact on the farming community.
He said,
“We want to create a model that can be adopted across the country. My effort is that farmers take care of the environment along with increasing their income.”
Surendra Awana’s story is proof that success can be achieved in any field with dedication, hard work and technological innovation. His contribution is not only in giving a new direction to dairy farming, but also in motivating farmers and strengthening the rural economy.
His journey is an inspiration for every farmer who wants to make farming and animal husbandry a profitable business. Surendra Awana is not only a successful farmer but he is also a “true hero of agriculture”.
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