A CORRESPONDENT
SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday said that the Government is making the required investment to upscale the dairy sector in the State. He said that through the flagship 'Dairy Mission' programme, the State Government has charted out various interventions to promote dairy farming.
"Government of Meghalaya is working with different Dairy Cooperative Societies to encourage milk production across the State," the Chief Minister said while laying the foundation for new Dairy Complex at Ganol in the West Garo Hills district.
The new complex, costing Rs. 10.52 crore, is funded by National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), Government of India, which has contributed Rs. 9.15 crore and Milk Producers Union of West Garo Hills, which has contributed Rs. 86.27 lakh.
The new plant will have a capacity of 10,000 litres per day.
The existing plant at Ganol has a capacity of 1,000 litres per day.
Sangma informed that the new dairy complex will have a chilling, processing and packaging and distribution unit.
The Chief Minister said that livestock provides a lucrative opportunity for the farming community of the State as Meghalaya largely depends on imports from other States.
"Almost 50 percent of the meat products available in the State, including pork, beef, mutton, poultry, fish and dairy products are imported from different regions of India as our production is low. The livestock business amounts to the tune of about Rs 4,500 crore in the State, which means that about Rs 2,250 crore goes outside the State," the Chief Minister said, while encouraging local entrepreneurs to harness the opportunity that is available in the livestock sector.
Sangma informed that the Dairy Mission amounting to Rs 215 crore aims to provide opportunities to the farming community and entrepreneurs through cooperative societies.
He also took the opportunity to mention the Piggery Mission, which is currently being implemented in the State, one of the largest piggery projects in the country amounting to about Rs 209 crore.
Sangma further told the gathering that the Government is set to launch the Poultry Mission for which Rs 120 crore has been earmarked and Goatery Mission, for which Rs 75 crore has been earmarked in the current financial year. He further urged the people to avail benefit of the livestock programmes of the Government and avail the interest free loans through formation of Cooperative Societies.
"We see a great opportunity in livestock production and believe that through this programme we will be able to provide livelihood and income generation amongst the people of the State," Sangma added.
The New Dairy Complex at Ganol will benefit fifteen Dairy Cooperative Societies in the Garo Hills region of Meghalaya and will directly impact about 300 households.
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