Punjab to chalk out comprehensive plan for milk consumption and conducive atmosphere for milk producers : Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa

5 Dariya News

Chandigarh 19-May-2020

Taking a futuristic step to manage the increase of milk production in a month of October, the Punjab Government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to provide pure milk to consumers and ensure remunerative price of milk for dairy farmers and proper marketing.During a high level meeting, chaired by the state's Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa,  it was decided that milk powder should be a part of mid-day meal for school children and it should also included in the commodities being distributed through Public Distribution System. Mr. Bajwa directed the officials to take up the matter with concerned departments. Notably, if this decision comes into practice then the milk powder stock would be cleared and Milkfed would be able to purchase the milk at remunerative prices for the farmers. An official spokesperson of the Punjab Government said that the Minister instructed the representatives of the Farmers Commission, Milkfed and Dairy Development Board to chalk out a comprehensive plan to make Milkfed financially sustainable. He also asked them to come out with a proposal so that Milkfed could handle the increased the Milk production during the Month of October. He said that to provide financial assistance to the Milkfed all these proposals would be disused with the finance department.He also asked the Milkfed to start the new plant at Bassi Pathan as soon as possible and increase the capacity of the old plants.Presenting his views during the meeting, Mr. Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, Managing Director, Milkfed said that a lump sum assistance of Rs. 400 crore to Milkfed can bring the milk producers out of the current crisis.Dr. Balwinder Singh Sidhu, Secretary Farmers Commission and Dr. Inderjit Singh Director Dairy Development and representative of the Milk Producers Mr. Ranjit Singh also present their views during the meeting.