Shahpur MLA Kewal Singh Pathania has expressed his gratitude to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for the state government’s decision to double the incentive for milk producers from Rs 3 to Rs 6 per litre. This move is expected to significantly benefit thousands of families involved in livestock rearing and provide a substantial boost to the rural economy.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that eligible milk producers, who are associated with non-governmental dairy cooperative societies, will now receive the enhanced incentive of Rs 6 per litre directly through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The state government has earmarked an allocation of Rs 14 crore for the implementation of this enhanced incentive scheme.
Pathania further highlighted that Himachal Pradesh, under the current leadership, has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first state in the country to implement a minimum support price (MSP) for milk. He asserted that the state is currently offering the highest procurement prices for both cow and buffalo milk nationwide.
The MLA elaborated on the government’s decision to increase the procurement price of cow milk from Rs 32 per litre to Rs 61 per litre, and buffalo milk from Rs 47 per litre to Rs 71 per litre. This substantial hike is anticipated to provide an additional financial benefit of approximately Rs 48.86 crore per month to milk producers across the state, marking the highest ever financial upliftment for the sector.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the daily milk procurement in Himachal Pradesh has witnessed a considerable increase, rising from one lakh litres to approximately three lakh litres. Complementing these initiatives, a modern milk processing plant is under development at Dhagwar in the Kangra district, with an estimated project cost of around Rs 250 crore. This facility is expected to further enhance the milk processing capabilities and value chain within the state.
The Chenab Times News Desk