222 automatic milk collection units installed in State: Sukhu

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu while presiding over the  review meeting of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited here today, directed to ensure better marketing and high quality of its products.

He said that a milk processing centre would be established in Karcham or Tapri in Kinnaur district to make its products available to the army and local people. He said that the possibility of operating both milk processing plants located at Duttnagar of Shimla district on an outsource basis should be considered to ensure further increase in production.

Directions were given for preparing of a proposal to set up a new milk powder plant in the already existing milk processing plant in Mandi district. He said that the federation has recorded the highest increase in milk procurement during this financial year and 29 new bulk milk coolers have been installed.

In two years, 222 automatic milk collection units have been installed in the State. Multi-level efforts have been made to increase the number of milk-producing co-operative societies with their number has increased to 716 as of now. The number of farmers selling milk to Milkfed has also increased significantly, now exceeding 40,000.

Federation President Buddhi Singh Thakur, Principal Secretary Finance Devesh Kumar, Secretary Health M. Sudha Devi, Managing Director Vikas Sood, Senior Manager Preeti and other senior officials were present at the meeting.