Modi and Gujarat Speaker Discuss Dairy and Agriculture

Shankar Chaudhary described the meeting with Narendra Modi as cordial in a post on X. The discussion included agriculture, co-operation, nature, dairy and matters affecting farmers, livestock rearers and rural communities.

Chaudhary referred to India’s continued restrictions on milk imports and said they had protected the interests of domestic livestock farmers despite pressure from international markets. Dairy co-operatives remain involved in collecting, processing and marketing milk produced by farmers in Gujarat.

The Gujarat assembly speaker also highlighted the Centre’s GOBARdhan scheme. He described the programme as an initiative intended to improve the economic sustainability of livestock farmers and said its investment exceeded Rs 23,000 crore. The scheme involves turning cattle dung and other organic waste into biogas, compressed biogas and organic manure.

The meeting also included a link to Tharad, the Gujarat constituency from which Chaudhary was elected. He gave Modi a shawl made by women from the region, describing the item as a representation of their skills and commitment to self-reliance. Modi’s acceptance of the handmade gift was described by Chaudhary as a source of pride for the women who produced it.

Chaudhary holds two senior roles connected to the subjects discussed. He became speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly in December 2022 after winning the Tharad seat in that year’s assembly election. He had previously represented Radhanpur and Vav and had held ministerial posts in the Gujarat government.

In October 2025, Chaudhary was re-elected without opposition as chairman of Banas Dairy for a third consecutive term. The co-operative, based in Banaskantha, serves dairy farmers in northern Gujarat through milk procurement, processing and links with dairy markets. The meeting brought together his legislative position and his role in the state’s co-operative dairy sector.