Conrad K Sangma, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, stated on Saturday that the government is investing in the dairy sector in the state. The State Government, he added, has plotted out several interventions to boost dairy farming through its flagship ‘Dairy Mission‘ programme. The Chief Minister said while laying the foundation for a new Dairy Complex at Ganol in the West Garo Hills region, “The Government of Meghalaya is working with several Dairy Cooperative Societies to increase milk production across the State.”
The new facility, which costs Rs. 10.52 crore, is supported by the Government of India’s National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), which provided Rs. 9.15 crore, and the Milk Producers Union of West Garo Hills, which donated Rs. 86.27 lakh. The new factory will have a 10,000-litre-per-day capacity. The current Ganol facility has a daily capacity of 1,000 litres. According to Sangma, the new dairy complex would include chilling, processing, packaging, and distribution facilities.
Meghalaya is heavily reliant on imports from other states, according to the Chief Minister, therefore livestock provides a lucrative potential for the state’s farming community. “Because our production is poor, about half of the meat products available in the state, including pig, beef, mutton, poultry, fish, and dairy goods, are imported from various parts of India. The livestock industry in the state is worth approximately Rs 4,500 crore, with about Rs 2,250 crore going outside the state “The Chief Minister mentioned this while encouraging local businesses to take advantage of the livestock sector’s opportunities.
According to Sangma, the Dairy Mission, which has a budget of Rs 215 crore, strives to provide possibilities to farmers and businesses through cooperative societies. He also used the occasion to address the Piggery Mission, which is now being executed in the State and is one of the country’s largest piggery projects, costing Rs 209 crore. Sangma further informed the audience that the government is planning to begin the Poultry Mission, for which Rs 120 crore has been set aside, as well as the Goatery Mission, for which Rs 75 crore has been put aside in the current fiscal year. He also advised individuals to take advantage of the government’s livestock programmes and interest-free loans available through the formation of cooperative societies.
“We see a huge possibility in cattle production and feel that by implementing this programme, we will be able to give livelihood and income generation for the people of the state,” Sangma stated. The New Dairy Complex in Ganol would assist fifteen Dairy Cooperative Societies in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills region, affecting roughly 300 households directly.