Himachal Pradesh's Strategic Overhaul of MilkFed to Boost Dairy Sector

The Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited (MilkFed) is set for a strategic transformation as directed by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. This overhaul includes a focus on new processing capacities, strategic outsourcing, and enhanced marketing to leverage recent record levels of milk procurement.

Under the new directive, a major processing center will be developed in Kinnaur district, aimed at serving both the local populace and the Indian Army. Additionally, a milk powder plant is proposed at the existing Mandi facility to manage surplus milk and reduce market volatility.

To improve operational efficiency, the Chief Minister has suggested exploring the outsourcing of two processing plants in Shimla district, which could increase production capacity without heavy state investment. This initiative comes as MilkFed has reported its highest-ever increase in milk procurement, supported by over 40,000 farmers and 716 cooperative societies.

Technical advancements have been made with the commissioning of 222 automatic milk collection units and 29 bulk milk coolers in the last two years, enhancing the cooperative's supply chain efficiency. These investments support the push towards high-value dairy products, aligning with the CM's mandate for consistent quality and market competitiveness.