Parliamentary Delegation Reviews Dairy Infrastructure at Verka Plant

A 31-member parliamentary delegation visited the Verka milk plant in Mohali on Monday to evaluate the dairy infrastructure and operations in Punjab. This delegation is part of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing and is on a week-long study tour covering various regions, including Srinagar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Shimla, and Haryana.

The delegation, comprising members from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, was hosted by Milkfed Punjab. Rahul Gupta, the managing director, along with board members and officials from the Union and state animal husbandry departments, welcomed the delegation. During the visit, MPs inspected various aspects of the plant, including its milk procurement network, processing operations, quality control systems, packaging units, and cold chain infrastructure.

Punjab stands out in the dairy sector, producing approximately 384 lakh litres of milk daily, with the highest per capita availability in India at 1,318 grams per day. The officials briefed the committee on Milkfed Punjab's support for over 3.75 lakh milk producers through a cooperative model, under which dairy products are supplied under the Verka brand.

Presentations were made on the plant's procurement and processing capacity, value-added products, and initiatives aimed at boosting farmers' incomes and ensuring nutritional security. Discussions also addressed challenges such as regional processing capacities, cold chain expansion, and value addition. The delegation appreciated Milkfed's efforts in strengthening rural livelihoods.

Rahul Gupta highlighted that Verka is expanding its capacity, modernizing infrastructure, and diversifying products in line with Milkfed's Vision 2026, which aims to double production and processing.