Srinagar, August 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a high-level review meeting on Jammu and Kashmir Dairy Processing Infrastructure Development Scheme (JKDPIDS), which is an initiative of 1,433 crore K 1,433 crore, aimed at converting the dairy sector of J&K into a strong and worldly competitive industry.
During the review, the Chief Minister highlighted the vast dairy capacity in Jammu and Kashmir.
He emphasized the immediate need to expand the existing milk processing up to at least 20% of the current 4% within the next seven years, ensuring better prices, regular payments and market access to more than 5 lakh dairy farmers.
Principal Secretary, Department of Agriculture Production (APD), Shailendra Kumar made a detailed presentation on the scheme implemented as a nodal agency by the National Dairy Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
The scheme envisages 10 automatic milk processing plants (except Srinagar and Jammu) in 18 districts, increase in milk collection and chilling capacity for 10 LLPDs, construction of 100 milk test laboratories and formation of 10,000 farmer-owned dairy colleges.
He said that all deputy commissioners have been asked to immediately identify and transfer 40–50 canals for each proposed processing plant.
The Chief Minister called for close inter-department coordination to ensure road connectivity, electricity and timely provisions at project sites.
He further directed the NDDB and Animal Husbandry Department to accelerate agreements on sexual semen production and fodder development to strengthen productivity at the ground level.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also asked NABARD to ensure quick release of money and strict financial monitoring, while emphasizing that all departments should follow the scheduled deadline for project execution with quarterly progression reviews at the state level.
Highlighting the estimated impact of the scheme, the Chief Minister said it would greatly boost cooperative business, create thousands of rural and skilled jobs, and ensure hygiene, export-taiyar milk supply.
He said that this initiative is more than a regional upgradation – this is an economic change for rural Jammu and Kashmir. He said, “Our dairy sector has a column of rural prosperity and the ability to be a driver of export excellence,” he commented, urged all stakeholders to work with urgency and accuracy.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Agriculture Production Department Javed Ahmed Dar, Advisor to Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary APD, Principal Secretary APD, Principal Secretary Finance, Vice Chancellor Scout Jammu, Director Animal Husband, and NABARDB, NABARDB, NABARDB, SA & P group and other related officers.
