Plan To Boost Milk Production in Barak Valley

Special Correspondent

Silchar: Barak Valley has earned the dubious distinction of being a region of ‘vanishing industrial units’ and the reasons behind it have been gross mismanagement and corruption. Cachar sugar mill, textile industry at Badarpur, pineapple juice concentrate plant, Panchgram paper mill and the milk plant at Ghungoor have become the story of past. The ambitious Kamul milk processing unit set up in the early 80’s at Ghungoor near this town stands as a replica of its past. Renewed efforts are now on to implement quality milk processing units in Cachar and Hailakandi under dairy entrepreneurship development scheme (DEDS). It is a flagship scheme of the Union government.

Dr S R Samantara, DGM, NABARD, addressing the zonal level workshop here in the conference hall of a hotel here on the dairy entrepreneurship, elaborated on the basic features of the scheme, its framework, besides highlighting its major objectives. The workshop involved bankers of Cachar and Hailakandi who were advised to extend necessary financial support to the farmers within the laid down guidelines. He said steps are being taken to maximize income of farmers engaged in milk rearing along with modernizing the dairy sector using latest technology.

The DGM also laid stress on building infrastructure with backward and forward linkage, availability of water and land, higher price for the produce and upgraded infrastructure facility in veterinary sector. He regretted Assam which has immense potentiality for ushering in ‘white revolution’ like Gujarat is largely lagging behind proper implementation of the scheme. He called upon all concerned to carry it forward on a mission mode. A power point presentation on the various dimensions of DEDS was made by L Naocha Singh. An interactive session with bankers was conducted by DDM NABARD. An action plan for proper implementation of the scheme was laid out at the workshop.

DC Laya Madduri who inaugurated the workshop emphasized on the importance of giving effect to the initiative of reviving the almost defunct good quality milk processing units in both the districts of Cachar and Karimganj in consistent with the declared policy of the government. The department of animal husbandry has been extending financial back up to farmers in other districts. Farmers of Cachar and Hailakandi should take advantage of it and work sincerely to maximize production of milk and generate employment with the support of all to reach the set goal, she concluded.

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