NDDB strengthening dairy farming in Eastern & North Eastern India

NDDB strengthening dairy farming in Eastern & North Eastern India

Anand, 29.10.2020: The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) foresees the next big growth spurt of dairy cooperatives in eastern and north eastern India. NDDB is associated with the dairy development activities in some of the most backward areas in eastern and north eastern states of Jharkhand, Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Sikkim and Nagaland. Extreme climatic conditions and absence of better livelihood opportunities are major reasons behind this socio-economic backwardness. Livestock remains the only hope for farmers in such hostile conditions.

Management of Jharkhand Milk Federation

NDDB will continue to manage Jharkhand Milk Federation (JMF) as the Jharkhand Cabinet has recently approved extension of MoU between NDDB and JMF till March 31, 2024. Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Cooperative, Govt of Jharkhand, Shri Badal Patralekh has expressed his faith in the fair and transparent working pattern of NDDB and appreciated NDDB’s developmental approach. He further said that the dairy sector would also help in stopping migration of locals to other parts of the country in search of better employment opportunities.

Shri Dilip Rath, Chairman, NDDB said that NDDB managed Jharkhand Milk Federation (JMF) has provided milk producers of Jharkhand with a transparent and quality-based milk procurement system to get greater access to organised milk processing sector. Dairy Board’s efforts have strengthened dairying and ensured remunerative prices to the milk producers.

Shri Rath conveyed that innovative measures introduced by NDDB guaranteed that the money from the urban areas of Jharkhand gets transferred to the rural areas thereby bringing about a significant improvement in rural economy through dairying. Efforts have been made to promote the financial inclusion of the members of cooperatives. Presently, 100% of milk producers receive payment directly in their bank accounts.

NDDB positioned its team to manage affairs of Federation from April 2014 while taking over the management of Federation from 1^st April 2014. Currently, Federation is operating in 15 districts of Jharkhand namely Ranchi, Ramgarh, Lohardaga, Khunti, Hazaribag, Koderma, Giridih, Deoghar, Dhanbad, Palamau, Garhwa, Chatra, Latehar, Bokaro and Godda. In 2019-20, annual average milk procurement from these 15 districts remained about 117.52 TKgPD and marketing around 102.99 TLPD. In addition to this, various other milk products such as curd, sweet curd, paneer, ghee, lassi, peda and kheer mix were also marketed.

A glance of trends during last 7 years

Processing infrastructure: The Jharkhand Milk Federation has 4 dairy plants (Ranchi, Deoghar, Koderma & Latehar) with total installed capacity of 140 TLPD and one 50 MTPD cattle feed plant at Hotwar, Ranchi. TheGovt of Jharkhand has requested NDDB for construction, establishment and management of three new dairy plants in the state which are being done on priority by NDDB on turn-key basis.

Projects in pipeline

Apart from these three plants, construction of products dairy plant at Hotwar and two dairy plants of 50 TLPD (expandable to 100 TLPD) at Jamshedpur and Giridih are also being discussed with GoJ. After addition of these new dairy plants the total milk processing capacity would be around 5 LLPD by 2024. JMF’s milk handling capability would also increase to 5 lakh litres per day. This would create employment opportunities and Jharkhand will be self-sufficient in milk production. Moreover creation of new dairies will help in getting fresh and processed milk and milk products to its valued consumers. JMF is also providing continued support to farmers’ training on new innovations in the dairy industry along with veterinary health care and fodder related activities.

Rise of dairy cooperatives in North East (Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland, Sikkim)

Rejuvenating WAMUL: The Govt of Assam had requested NDDB to manage the West Assam Cooperative Milk Union (WAMUL), which was on the verge of closure. When NDDB took over the management in April 2008, the union was procuring just 300 kg of milk from one dairy cooperative society. Its dairy plant was refurbished and restarted in August 2008. NDDB continues to manage WAMUL popularly known as Purabi, which is increasingly positioning itself as a premier dairy brand of Assam.

During the year 2018-19, WAMUL was associated with around 13000 dairy farmers through 280 Milk collection centres covering around 656 villages that reported an average milk procurement of 30123KGPD. NDDB is providing technical and manpower support for milk procurement, processing, marketing and training and capacity building activities. NDDB managed WAMUL has been recording continuous growth in the milk procurement and marketing indices.

Benchmark survey & DPR preparation for dairy development in Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura: At the requests of Nagaland State Dairy Cooperative Federation Ltd, Manipur Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union Ltd and Tripura’s Gomati Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd, benchmark surveys were conducted and reports prepared for estimating milk production potential in Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura. Twelve villages spread across four districts in Manipur, namely, Chandel, Kakching, Tengnoupal and Ukhrul were surveyed. Surveys were conducted in five districts of Nagaland, viz, Phek, Dimapur, Kohima, Mokukchung and Peren.

Similarly, five districts in Tripura, viz, West District, Khowai District, Sepahijala District, Gomati District and South District were surveyed. NDDB had also supported Gomati Milk Union in preparing a detailed project report for availing funds under the NPDD Scheme of Govt. of India. The Govt of India sanctioned Rs 22.06 crore to the milk Union.

Promising milk union in Sikkim: The Sikkim Milk Union has been identified as the promising Milk Union in the North East. A multi-disciplinary team of officers from NDDB visited the Milk Union and had preliminary discussions on the present status and probable course of action for the Milk Union’s further development in future. Continuos support/guidance on Cooperative Governance is being  provided to Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram & Gomati milk unions.

Ayurveda-Veterinary Medicine being practised in Assam, Manipur, Sikkim & Tripura: AVM has been propagated in the North East with a view to help farmers managing many ailments at minimal costs. A workshop was organized on Ayurveda Veterinary Practices at NDDB Kolkata and participants from the states of Assam, Manipur, Sikkim & Tripura attended.

Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH): In order to capture all the information related to breeding and health of dairy animals, NDDB is facilitating to implement INAPH in the North East. NDDB imparts necessary training and orientation on INAPH. Presently, all the villages across all the districts are covered under INAPH.

Chairman, NDDB said that in areas where cooperatives have not been formed, and in areas where there is a need that goes beyond the capacity of existing cooperatives, the Dairy Board will render support to organize producer owned institutions. Supported by NDDB’s research, training and professional management services, cooperative institutions will be guided to realise their full potential.