Mr. Animesh Banerjee Animesh Banerjee has been chosen as the recipient of Patronship of IDA 2016-17, in recognition of outstanding services rendered by him in furthering the cause of the Indian Dairy Association and the growth of the Indian dairy industry.
Mr. Animesh Banerjee is among the select group of people who are actively involved in the incubation-cum-growth of dairy development in India. He was one of the members of the core group in National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), which was led by late Dr. Verghese Kurien who brought in White Revolution in India, empowering the nation’s underprivileged millions.
A Chemical Engineering graduate from Jadavpur University in Kolkata, Mr. Banerjee started his career in 1960 with the process plant design and manufacturing industry. He joined NDDB during its formative stage in 1967 and rose to become the Executive Director cum Member of NDDB’s Board. Over the last 45 years, Mr. Animesh Banerjee has contributed immensely across multiple sectors of agribusiness, dairy and food production and processing sectors.
He was one of those members who was instrumental in establishing around 100 dairy/allied food processing units across the country.
Mr. Banerjee’s association with IDA has been long and his contributions to it immense. He led Indian Dairy IDA Patronship Photographs featuring the Patrons, Fellows and Dairy Women receiving their Awards have been included in the Snapshots from the 45th DIC (pages 19-33).
Association as President for 11 remarkable years over three consecutive terms. Taking over the reins of the Association in 1994, he was at the helm till 2007.
Mr. Banerjee joined IDA as an ordinary member in 1965 and later became its life member. In the early seventies he became actively involved with IDA during his tenure as a Deputy Director at the Northern Regional Office of NDDB in Delhi between 1972 and 1975.
Having worked with NDDB and IDC in all the regions of the country, he
became closely associated with some of the founding fathers of IDA in fostering its growth, especially in South, North and Eastern regions of the country. He was the Vice President IDA, East Zone during 1983-86 and Chairman IDA North Zone between 1986 and 1995.
During his tenure as President IDA, Mr. Banerjee initiated several resurrection activities including the refurbishment of IDA House. His initiatives include the removal of several functional limitations in IDA and creation of its globally-recognized image. Thus, IDA not only became a powerful apex national body but also succeeded in making
a strong presence in the international dairy arena.
Mr. Banerjee has also been a regular contributor, as a thought leader, on policy issues related to agribusiness. He was a member of the Indian National Committee of the International Dairy Federation, and Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Indian Journal of Dairy Science and Indian Dairyman.
The Patronship is a fitting tribute to Mr. Animesh Banerjee for his exemplary role in the development of the dairy industry and his numerous contributions to its progress.