State milk production to get much-needed boost with the inauguration of the Directorate of Dairy Development and the Meghalaya Milk Processing Centre

* Directorate of Dairy Development and Meghalaya Milk Processing Centre inaugurated

A Reporter

SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday inaugurated the Directorate of Dairy Development and the Meghalaya Milk Processing Centre at Mawiong in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong and other dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister said that the opening of the directorate and the milk processing centre will give milk production in the State a much-needed boost and termed it as a massive revolution in the dairy sector.

Stating that almost all North Eastern States were deficient in milk production, Sangma was optimistic that the functioning of the new unit will help meet the present demands of milk consumption in the State which currently stands at about 2,00,000 metric tons annually and also secure the nutritional needs of children.

‘There is a huge demand for organic milk. Meghalaya can play a pivotal role to fill up the gap in the supply of organic milk to other States and even neighbouring countries. This is a huge economic opportunity for our State and our farmers, he added.

The Chief Minister also informed that the operation of the milk processing unit will be handed over to the East Khasi Hills District Milk Cooperative Union shortly.

During his short speech, Deputy Chief Minister P Tynsong acknowledged the important role of cooperatives in the milk production sector and urged them to work with commitment as they are a source of providing employment opportunities to thousands of people in both the urban and rural areas of the State.

Earlier during his address, Agriculture Production Commissioner KN Kumar said that India was the largest producer of milk in the entire world and accounted for 16 per cent of the total global production.

He informed that the per capita supply of milk per day in Meghalaya was 83 grams which was very low as compared to the National average of 315 gm per capita.

There is a shortage of about 1.65 lakh metric tonnes and there is an urgent need to triple the production to meet the current demand necessitated by the increase in purchasing power and lifestyle changes of the people, he added.

Stating that the cattle reared in the State is primarily for meat and only 40 per cent accounted for milk production he underlined the need for extra investment in the sector and provide the necessary training to equip the farmers with the necessary skill set to rear high yielding cross bred variety of cattle to increase milk production.

He also informed that there were only three dairy processing units in the State and more processing units would be required to meet the increase in processing, necessitated by the increase in milk production by the farmers.

Others present in at the function were PT Sawkmie, MLA Mawlai constituency, Geroge B Lyngdoh, MLA Umroi, Edelberth Nongrum, MLA North Shillong, students and officials who came from different parts of the State.

Also read: Meghalaya news