Assam government and National Dairy Development Board sign JV MoU to reduce imports

By Jim Cornall

- Last updated on GMT

Renowned for its tea, Assam is now looking to become self-sufficient in milk production. Pic: Getty Images/nevarpp
Renowned for its tea, Assam is now looking to become self-sufficient in milk production. Pic: Getty Images/nevarpp

Related tags India Milk Dairy

India’s National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Assam government have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create a Rs 2,000-crore ($270m) joint venture to ensure Assam becomes self-reliant with a 1m liter milk production target.

Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma attended the MoU signing program between the NDDB and the Government of Assam at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in presence of Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala.

The Chief Minister said the JV will transform the dairy sector in Assam by heralding a new era of rural economic development by augmenting dairy sector development and generating livelihood opportunities.

The JV company would be set up for Rs 2000 crore with the target of processing 1m liters of milk through six new milk processing units within seven years. This will benefit more than 175,000 dairy farmers in Assam and increase their earnings, the Chief Minister said.

Under the MoU, two cattle-feed and organic manure manufacturing units will also be set up. The import of high-yielding cattle breeds and artificial insemination will also take place.

The foundation stone of the expansion project at the Purabi Dairy was also laid at the same time, which the Chief Minister said would more than double the company’s production capacity from 60 to 150 thousand liters per day.

The Chief Minister also said dairy farmers would be provided subsidies for market price fluctuation of their produce.

“With this project, the mission of Atmanirbhar Assam begins in real earnest and we are confident of minimizing our reliance on other states for milk and other food products. With growth of GDP and per capita income in Assam, people’s spending on meat, milk products, etc. have increased and Assam must become self-reliant in meeting its own requirement without depending on other states to stop the revenue flow,”​ the Chief Minister said.

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