Shimla, Feb 4 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh government on Sunday signed a MoU with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for establishing a state-of-the-art automated milk processing plant in Dhagwar, Kangra.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the plant, would be constructed with an investment of Rs. 225 crore in the first phase. The plant aims to produce a diverse range of dairy products, including curd, lassi, butter, ghee, paneer, flavoured milk, khoya and mozzarella cheese.
Sukhu said NDDB would provide consultative service for the plant.As the project unfolds, it would bring prosperity to the dairy farming communities and contribute significantly to the overall growth of the State, he said.
The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of transparency in milk procurement to ensure that the farmers get good value for their hard work.
He added that an additional investment of Rs. 43 crore was earmarked for strengthening the milk procurement network with a target to purchase 2.74 LLPD for sustaining the plant's operations.
The initiative, aligned with the government's commitment to farmer welfare, also includes plans for the second phase, which would see the production of milk powder, ice cream, and various types of cheese at the Plant.
The Chief Minister said the government was committed to the welfare of the dairy farming community of the state and has recently announced to raise the milk procurement price from Rs. 32 to Rs. 38. He said the state government was making earnest efforts to increase the income of farmers and new schemes would be introduced in the times to come.
Strengthening the rural economy was imperative for making Himachal Pradesh a self-reliant state, said the Chief Minister, adding that since around 95 percent of the state's population reside in rural areas , the vision of making Himachal, the most progressive state remains unattainable without achieving this goal.
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