Team News Riveting
Raipur, February 17
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that the state government had taken effective steps to strengthen the dairy industry on the lines of White Revolution in Chhattisgarh and to double the income of farmers and cattlemen.
He said that to make milk production a profitable business and to make the state self-reliant in milk production, a pilot project has been prepared in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), under which work will be done on a large scale. The Chief Minister, while reviewing the works of the Animal Husbandry Department in a meeting held at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan, said that after the agreement between the State Government and NDDB in December 2024, rapid efforts are being made to increase milk production in Chhattisgarh.
Sai said that most of the population of Chhattisgarh is associated with agriculture and also does animal husbandry for additional income. He informed that the state government is investing about Rs 5 crore for the effective implementation of the pilot project prepared under the expertise of the NDDB. Six districts of Chhattisgarh have been included under the scheme and after successful implementation, it will be expanded to the entire state.
The Chief Minister said that the development of dairy industry would give new impetus to the rural economy and new employment opportunities would be created for the youth. Along with this, the nutrition level of the people of the state would also improve, which would bring positive change in the health of children and women.
Sai directed the officials that along with increasing milk production, a concrete action plan should be prepared to increase the availability of milk per person and the use of surplus milk. He also said that a special campaign should be run to make farmers and animal breeders associated with milk production aware so that they can increase their income by adopting modern techniques.
In the meeting, NDDB Chairman Meenesh Shah informed that at present 58 lakh kg of milk is being produced in the state every day. He said that after a thorough study of the functioning of Chhattisgarh State Milk Union, a comprehensive action plan has been prepared to increase milk production and marketing.
Shah informed that through cooperative societies in the state, the facility of milk quality check and immediate payment will be provided to the cattle farmers with modern technology and machines. The establishment of biogas and bio-fertilizer plants will increase the sources of additional income of the cattle farmers, which will also maintain environmental balance.
The Chief Minister told the officials that with the successful implementation of the pilot project, important steps could be taken towards making Chhattisgarh self-reliant in the field of milk production. He discussed in detail about the long-term plan to promote dairy development, animal productivity enhancement, animal breeding and animal nutrition.
Sai said that the state government was committed to the economic empowerment of farmers and animal husbandry. “We have to ensure that milk production is taken to new heights through modern technology and scientific approach,” he said, adding that the state government was determined to increase milk production in the state and strengthen the rural economy.
Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Subodh Singh, Agriculture Production Commissioner Smt. Shehla Nigar, Director Animal Husbandry Remigius Ekka and other senior officials were present on this occasion.
