Kullu: Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday said Rs 201 crore had been allocated for the construction of the state-of-the-art milk processing plant at Dhagwar in Kangra district.
The plant is being developed in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board and the construction work is scheduled to begin soon.
Sukhu in a statement said the plant would be built with an initial capacity of 1.50 lakh litres per day (LLPD), which could be further expanded up to 3 LLPD.The fully automatic plant aims to produce a variety of dairy products such as curd, lassi, butter, ghee, paneer, flavoured milk, khoya and mozzarella cheese. The project is expected to enhance the economic prosperity of the farmers in Kangra, Hamirpur, Chamba and Una districts, he added.
The CM said the project would immensely benefit the dairy farming community and contribute to the state’s economy. “As the project unfolds, it is poised to bring prosperity to the dairy farming community. It will ensure that farmers get good value for their hard work. The new milk processing plant stands as a testament to the govt’s dedication towards improving the livelihood of the farmers and promoting the state’s dairy industry,” he said.
Sukhu mentioned that the initiative aligned with the govt’s commitment to farmer welfare. Once the Dhagwar milk processing plant begins operations, the govt also plans to start production of milk powder, ice cream and various types of cheese at this plant.
Reiterating his govt’s commitment to the welfare of farmers, the CM said the milk procurement rates had been raised significantly. While the procurement price of cow milk has been raised from Rs 32 to Rs 45 per litre, price for buffalo milk has been increased to Rs 55 per litre.
“The move is a part of the broader efforts to boost the farmer’s income. We will introduce new welfare schemes in future as well,” he remarked. “Strengthening the rural economy is imperative for making Himachal Pradesh self-sufficient and prosperous, as about 95% of the state’s population resides in rural areas,” Sukhu added.
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