Well understanding the importance of dairy sector to uplift the rural economy, just after taking over the reins of the State, Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and his team, started working to strengthen the farming community and common consensus was reached upon to purchase milk through cooperatives, milk federations and creating societies for the purpose etc. The motive is to ensure monthly income of around Rs. 24,000 to Rs. 30,000 to farmers of the State raising their income level. It was decided to buy cow’s milk from farmers at the rate of Rs. 80 per liter and buffalo milk at Rs.100 per litre. For this, chilling points would be set up at cluster level in villages for collection and storing milk from the farmers and thereafter it will be transported through refrigerated milk vans to the Mother plant at district levels. This will not only motivate the farmers for rearing cattle, but also provide self-employment opportunities to the rural youth.
The priority will be organizing dairy farmer’s cooperatives in rural areas and linking them with urban consumers by creating a strong network for procurement, processing, and distribution of milk. Emphasis will be laid for marketing of milk and milk related products through the State implementing agency or State co-operative diary producer’s societies, etc so as to ensure better price to the farmers, said Chief Minister Sukhu, while interacting with Union Minister of Animal Husbandry, P. Rupala in Delhi during his recent visit thereby revealing his firm commitment to transform the diary sector in the State, to give a lift to the economy of the farmers of Himachal Pradesh. The present State Government headed by Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is committed to strengthen the rural economy, keeping in mind the rural populace which is about 90 of the State’s total population. In order to strengthen the rural economy and create better developmental infrastructure in these areas, the State Government has decided to make a provision of Rs. 1000 crore for this vital sector.
For the process of procurement, processing, and marketing of milk and milk products. The State Government is also contemplating to buy cow dung from the farmers at the rate of rupees two per kilogram. This will not only help in strengthening the economy of the farmers, but will also motivate them to go for natural farming. The Chief Minister has made it clear time and again that the motto of present State Government is not to enjoy the power but to bring ‘Vyavstha Parivartan’ in the state for which active cooperation of people is necessary, only then, the State’s economic situation will be back on track through collective efforts.
