Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that Himachal Pradesh had vast scope for expansion of animal husbandry activities and all out efforts would be made to enhance the milk production in the state. He said effective steps would be taken for modernization of all the three milk processing plants of the State besides strengthening the market to facilitate the farmers engaged in dairy sector.He was presiding over a meeting held here today with the Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Dilip Rath, senior officers of the State Animal Husbandry department and H.P. Milk Federation.He said that a proper marketing strategy would be adopted so that Milk Federation could capitalize on local market potential to enhance the milk production in the State. He said that automation of milk processing plants and chilling plants would be done along-with IT interventions for ensuring transparency and quality in milk procurement, processing and marketing.
The Chief Minister requested National Dairy Development Board to provide technical assistance to the State for bringing white revolution in the State.Jai Ram Thakur said that Himachal Pradesh was bound to be included in the second phase of National Dairy Project which would benefit dairy and animal husbandry sector.Chairman NDDB Dilip Rath suggested that the State Government should adopt strategies like nutritive feeding and education programmes for farmers to enhance the milk production. He also said that cooperatives should be strengthened and there was also need for improvement in milk collection and strengthening the cooperatives. He assured that NDDB would provide all possible technical assistance to the state to increase milk production.Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry Sanjay Gupta, Managing Director, Milk Fed. Dr. Pankaj Lalit, Director, Animal Husbandry Dr. S.K. Chaudhary and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.