Minister says govt subsidies boost dairy production, support local farmers
Srinagar, Mar 20: The government on Thursday said the Jammu and Kashmir Milk Producers Cooperative Limited (JKMPCL) is set to increase its milk processing capacity from 2.5 lakh litres per day to 5 lakh litres per day over the next five years.
This development, as per the news agency – Kashmir News Observer (KNO), was shared in response to a question from MLA Justice Hasnain Masoodi.
According to the Agriculture Minister, the district of Pulwama is a major contributor to milk production in Kashmir, with daily production reaching approximately 7.45 lakh litres during peak seasons. In the Pampore constituency alone, it is estimated that milk production can exceed 1.5 lakh litres per day during the summer months, he said.
“The JKMPCL currently procures about 20,300 litres of milk daily from 203 dairy cooperative societies in Pulwama for processing. Local processing plants including Haleeb, Zamzam, and Khyber process around 60,000 litres of milk per day,” the minister said, adding, “The region also supplies 15,000 to 20,000 litres of loose milk daily to Srinagar, reinforcing Pulwama’s status as the largest contributor to processed milk in the Kashmir Division.”
To facilitate increased commercial processing of milk, the government said it has implemented several supportive measures, such as the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS) which offers a 50% subsidy on establishing milk processing units.
“Subsidies are provided for various facilities, including Modular Milk Pasteurization and Packaging units (up to Rs 15 lakhs), Bulk Milk Cooling Units (BMC) (up to Rs 5 lakhs), and Automatic Milk Collection Units (AMCU) (up to Rs 1.5 lakhs), among others. Under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), an additional incentive of Rs 20 lakhs is available for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to establish milk value-added startups,” the government informed.
The minister said these initiatives have already led to the establishment of a processing plant, five Bulk Milk Coolers (BMCs), and multiple AMCU units in Pulwama district.
He said JKMPCL is set to enhance its milk processing capacity, with support from the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and financial assistance from NABARD under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the National Programme for Dairy Development (CSS-NPDO).
While there are no current proposals for a dedicated industrial estate for milk processing units in the Kakapora block, the government is working under Project 22 of HADP to establish two mega milk processing facilities, which will increase the overall milk processing capacity by 5 lakh litres per day in Pulwama and Jammu, the minister said, adding that this initiative aims to benefit dairy farmers throughout the region, including those in Kakapora and neighbouring districts.
The local youth in Kakapora are encouraged to participate in the HADP Dairy Project Milk Value Addition Startups, which provides up to Rs 25 lakhs in assistance to Self-Help Groups (SHGs), the agriculture minister said, adding that there are also opportunities for support under the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme, providing 50% financial assistance up to Rs 15 lakhs for establishing milk processing facilities.
“The government is also offering an interest subvention of 3% under the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Fund, along with a 25% credit guarantee to support the development of milk and milk product processing facilities,” the minister said—(KNO)
