Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu: Adopt digital system for milk procurement by March next year
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today directed the Himachal Pradesh Milk Federation (Milkfed) to adopt modern digital technology for milk procurement by March 31, 2025.
He inaugurated a new milk processing plant of 50,000 litres per day capacity of Milkfed built at a cost of Rs 25.67 crore at Duttnagar in the Rampur Assembly constituency of Shimla district. “A digital system should be started to bring transparency in the purchase of milk and provide farmers information about the quality and price of their produce through SMSes,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that a plant of 20,000 litres per day capacity was already functional at Duttnagar and now its total capacity would go up to 70,000 litres per day. Flavoured milk, khoya, ghee, butter, paneer, lassi and curd would be produced in this plant, he added.
Sukhu said that 20,000 milk producers associated with 271 milk cooperative societies in Shimla, Kullu, Mandi and Kinnaur districts would benefit from the increase in the capacity of the plant. He added that the priority of the state government was to strengthen the rural economy so that the income of the farmers improves. “I have never worked for political gains. I decided to increase the price of milk by Rs 13 to Rs 15 to strengthen the rural economy,” he claimed. Maize produced through natural farming was being purchased at the rate of Rs 30 per kilo and wheat at the rate of Rs 40 per kilo.
He said, “Irrespective of the Opposition’s propaganda, our government will continue to work for the betterment of the people of the state. The previous BJP government had opened educational and health institutions without providing budget and adequate staff.” The previous BJP government distributed freebies worth Rs 5,000 crore for electoral gains,” he added.
Sukhu said that the government would recruit 900 veterinary pharmacists in the Animal Husbandry Department so that animal breeders could get better facilities on their doorsteps. He added, “Our government had extended all possible help to people during the disaster without the support of the Central Government. The state government has rehabilitated 23,000 disaster-affected families and given a special relief package of Rs 4,500 crore.”
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Chander Kumar said that the younger generation was giving up farming but the state government was making efforts to provide good income to people by connecting them with farming again. He added that the Milk Federation should focus on value addition so that farmers could get better economic benefits. Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh said that in the coming time, the state government would introduce more such schemes to revolutionise the rural economy of Himachal Pradesh.
