In another bid to prevent farmers' suicides in the state, the Maharashtra government would implement a dairy development programme in 2000 villages in 8 districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada. The state government would run the programme with the help of National Dairy Development Board.

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Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting to discuss this special project for drought-affected Marathwada and Vidarbha. NDDB Chairman Dilip Rath, Maharashtra minister for dairy development Mahadev Jankar, principal secretary of the department Vijay Kumar and Dairy development commissioner RG Kulkarni were present for the meeting which was held at Varsha, the official residence of the chief minister.

Fadnavis informed that the programme would be run in 2,000 villages from 8 districts including five districts from Vidarbha and three from the Marathwada region. He added that the programme would provide regular income and livelihood support to 60,000 families. The programme would also provide direct employment opportunities to 3,000 youths from these villages and indirect employment to transporters, distributors, retailers and other allied businesses.

The project would be run for three years and it is expected to generate business of Rs200 crore for milk growers. With involvement of NDDB it is expected to increase the quality of livestock and would also result in increased productivity.

The chief minister said that in Nagpur alone NDDB would be starting 100 milk distribution centres.

The government would also start the programme in other parts of the state.