By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 27: The Meghalaya government has reaffirmed its commitment to enhance milk production in the state through various initiatives.
Speaking at the National Milk Day celebration at the Central Dairy campus in Mawlai Mawiong, Principal Secretary to Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, FR Kharkongor, acknowledged that Meghalaya is still lagging behind the national average in milk production.
Citing the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) census for 2022-23, Kharkongor revealed that Meghalaya produces only 93,424 tonnes of milk annually, with a per capita availability of just 77 grams, far below the national average of 455 grams.
“However, there are promising signs after the creation of the separate directorate of diary development. The dairy infrastructures are being set up across the state,” he said.
Revealing that the Meghalaya Milk Processing Centre has a capacity of 50,000 litres per day, Kharkongor said the dairy plant in Jowai has a capacity of 8000 litres per day and the central dairy in Tura has a capacity of 8000 litres per day.
Kharkongor also mentioned government initiatives like the Meghalaya Milk Mission, which provides interest-free loans to farmers.
According to him, the programme has so far supported over 1,211 farmers from 106 dairy cooperative societies and has inducted 2,162 cows.
He added that the National Program for Dairy Development (NPDD) is being implemented in collaboration with the East Khasi Hills District Cooperative Union to increase organised milk production.
Under the NPDD, three new dairy plants with a capacity of 10,000 litres each are being set up in Tura, Umsning, and Mukhla, which will soon be inaugurated to further enhance milk production in the state.
Meanwhile, SC Sadhu, Secretary to the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, acknowledged the growing demand for milk and dairy products, particularly in urban areas.
“So our plan for the future should reflect and we all should work in that direction, so that our farmers will get better price for their produce and, at the same time, it can generate lot of employment and income, generating opportunities in our state,” he said.
Sadhu emphasised the potential of the dairy sector to generate employment and income while bridging the gap between milk production and consumption in the state.
It may be mentioned that National Milk Day is celebrated in India on November 26th every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, who is also known as the Father of the White Revolution in India.
Dr. Kurien was a renowned social entrepreneur and the driving force behind the success of the dairy cooperative movement in the country.