Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (Milkfed) has taken an important decision regarding its milk procurement system, keeping in view the interests of dairy farmers across the state and with the objective of extending the benefits of the Minimum Support Price (MSP) to a larger number of rural families.
A spokesperson of the state government said that following the implementation of the MSP for milk by the State Government, there has been a continuous increase in milk production by the farmers and their participation in the cooperative dairy system across Himachal Pradesh. The government has made a historical increase in the MSP on cow milk from Rs. 32 to Rs. 61 per litre and on buffalo milk from Rs. 47 to Rs. 71 per litre, in a phased manner. The primary objective of the MSP initiative is to ensure that its benefits are not limited to a small number of producers but reach a wider section of dairy farmers, particularly small and marginal farmers.
Over the past two years, the number of dairy producers participating in the cooperative system has increased from 28,645 to 42,500. During the same period, daily milk collection has risen from 1.57 lakh litres per day (LLPD) to 2.20 LLPD. This growth reflects the increasing confidence of farmers in the cooperative system and the expansion of the dairy sector in the state.
The spokesperson added that to further achieve this objective, it has been decided to impose a maximum procurement limit of 20 litres of milk per dairy producer per day. The purpose of this arrangement is to bring more new dairy farmers into the cooperative framework and create additional opportunities for increasing the income of rural households.
This decision is expected to ensure that larger number of farmers sell the milk produce at an increased MSP, increase the registration of new dairy producers in the cooperative sector, and improve the income and economic condition of families engaged in dairy farming.
The spokesperson added that the state government and the Milkfed assure all dairy farmers that their welfare remains the highest priority. Continuous efforts will be made in the future to expand the dairy sector and enhance farmers’ incomes.
The spokesperson requested all dairy producers and cooperative societies in the state to extend their cooperation in making this public-interest initiative successful.
