Shimla: In a move aimed at strengthening the cooperative dairy sector and boosting farmers’ incomes, the Himachal Pradesh govt has allowed all govt departments and institutions to procure milk and milk products from the state-run Milkfed and registered dairy cooperative societies.The approval covers govt hospitals, educational institutions, hostels, canteens, boards, corporations, public sector undertakings and other govt establishments, which can purchase milk products according to their requirements.Besides Milkfed, four dairy cooperatives are expected to benefit from the initiative. These include Kamdhenu Hitkari Manch and Kehloor Milk Producer Cooperative Society in Namhol, Bilaspur district; Gau Amrit Dugdh Utpadak Society in Paplota; and Amrit Dhara Dairy Cooperative Society in Darlaghat, Solan district.Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the govt was committed to strengthening the rural economy by ensuring remunerative prices and assured market access for farmers and milk producers. He said dairy farming had immense potential to enhance rural household incomes and that the latest decision would strengthen cooperative institutions while providing better marketing opportunities to local producers.The initiative is expected to provide an assured institutional market to thousands of local milk producers, strengthen dairy cooperatives, generate rural employment and improve the economic condition of farming households. It will also encourage dairy farming as a sustainable livelihood, particularly for small and marginal farmers, women and unemployed youth.Milkfed is currently undertaking dairy development activities across 11 districts through 799 primary milk producers’ cooperative societies, serving around 55,300 milk producers.The state govt is also providing the highest minimum support price for milk in the country to improve returns for dairy farmers, officials said.Sukhu said the govt would continue to promote rural-based economic activities, strengthen the dairy sector and generate employment opportunities to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant.
