Mahuva’s ‘miracle boy’ has transformed fortunes of livestock farmers

Gandhinagar: In the cattle sheds of Mahuva taluka in Surat district, 63-year-old Dipak Patel is known by an unusual name — "Miracle Boy". The title, earned over two decades of meticulous work in artificial insemination among cattle, reflects what the Gujarat govt calls the highest success rate in the country — an extraordinary 80%.Patel, a resident of Vaheval village in Mahuva, has quietly rewritten the rules of dairy productivity in his region. While the national average success rate of artificial insemination in cattle hovers between 35-40%, Patel has consistently maintained double that rate for nearly 20 years. Over his career, he has conducted more than 80,000 artificial insemination procedures.
The results are visible not just in statistics, but in milk cans lining village collection centres.According to official data, an average crossbred cow in India produces 7.4 litres of milk per day. In Gujarat, the average stands at 8.05 litres. But in Mahuva taluka, the figure is 11.3 litres per day — a surge attributed largely to Patel's expertise and sustained efforts in improving cattle breeds.Officials say the higher productivity has directly translated into increased incomes for thousands of livestock farmers in the taluka. Patel has been associated with the Surat District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited, popularly known as Sumul Dairy, where he played a key role in artificial insemination activities across Surat and Tapi districts. According to Ajitsinh Jadav, head of the veterinary department at Sumul Dairy, the union's overall success rate stands at 53%. Patel's individual success rate at 80% has significantly boosted the number of productive milch animals in the region.His contribution has drawn national attention. Patel was felicitated by Union home and cooperation minister Amit Shah in recognition of his work. His journey has also been documented in a book titled ‘The Miracle Boy', celebrating his role in transforming dairy practices at the grassroots level.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !