Shimla, July 10 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Wednesday that Rs. 201 crores have been allotted for constructing 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.
He 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 various 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.
The Chief Minister added that 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 and ensure that farmers get good value for their hard work. The new milk processing plant stands as a testament to the government’s dedication to improving the livelihood of the farmers and promoting the state’s dairy industry in a big way,” he stated.
Sukhu said once the Dhagwar milk processing plant begins operations, the government also plans to start production of milk powder, ice cream, and various types of cheese at this plant.
Sukhu reiterated the state government’s commitment to the welfare of farmers and said milk procurement rates have been raised significantly by the present government. The procurement price of cow milk has been raised from Rs. 32 to Rs. 45 per litre and buffalo milk to Rs. 55 per litre.
“The move is part of the broader efforts to boost farmers’s income. We will introduce new welfare schemes in the future as well,” remarked the Chief Minister.
“Strengthening the rural economy is imperative for making Himachal Pradesh self-sufficient and prosperous, as about 95 percent of the state’s population resides in rural areas. Without achieving the goal of strengthening the rural economy by making farmers financially stable and strong, the vision of a prosperous and self-reliant Himachal remains unattainable,” emphasised Shri Sukhu. UNI ML XC SSP
