Stimulating production and encouraging the uptake of improved technologies

1. Milk is one of the essential commodities in the entire choreography, how is the ‘Directorate of Dairy’ progressing with the demands in supply?

Dairy development is not primarily accountable for the production of milk in the state. We are more associated with post-production activities. The Directorate of AH and Veterinary has primarily mandated milk production in the state. However, we are delivering our best for the enhancement of milk production through various initiatives adopted as - Transformation of the unorganized milk sector into an organized milk sector through the formation of dairy co-operatives targeting dairy entrepreneurs and other milk value chain actors. As per the integrated sample survey -2019-20 conducted by AH and Veterinary Department, the annual milk production was 975 ml and per capita, availability was around 80ml. We believe that a lot is yet to achieve to bridge the gap between demand and supply of milk in the state.

2. As a facilitator to the dairy farmers and other stakeholders, how has the department been able to contribute to the economic growth as compared to the other NE states?

 As compared to the other commodities, the dairy and the livestock sector have proven to be good contributors to the economic upliftment of rural farmers. We are trying our best to upgrade the farmers and make them aware of the potentialities of dairy farming, milk production, primary processing, and milk value additions. Therefore, the farmers are able to procure better prices out of their farm produce.

3. How is the Directorate of Dairy contributing to the economic development of Assam in terms of employment and revenue generation?

The dairy sector is a good contributor to the GDP of the state. It contributes significantly to the total agricultural and allied sector growth. The majority of the dairy farmers of the state belong to the poor and marginal. We as a Department support them in their skill up-gradation, capacity building, milk value addition, etc. Milk after undergoing the process of value addition aids better value. We are further aiding the farmers to reduce the cost of production and thereby enhancing their profit margin through fodder production. We even assist the farmers with marketing platforms and thus they are capable of sending their produce to varied destinations and procuring better value for their produce.

4. How has the state government and the various schemes specified for the department been helpful for the economy?

 During the FY 2021-22, our Hon’ble Chief Minister, Assam has allocated us Rs 40.00 Crores for the enhancement of milk production in the state. Some of the initiatives are- the introduction of sex-sorted semen in artificial insemination to obtain female calf only, induction of Murrah buffalo and Gir cows from outside the state, distribution of seed capital to 200 Dairy Cooperative Societies(DCS) of the state, and supporting bank linked commercial milk production scheme to the progressive Dairy Entrepreneurs by rearing 80 numbers of milch cows by each progressive dairy Entrepreneurs, etc. These initiatives along with other budgeted activities will be very much beneficial in terms of the dairy development of the state. Furthermore, an MOU has been signed between the Govt of Assam and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to form a company exclusively for dairy development in the state. It is proposed that 10 lakhs litres of milk will be processed daily within a span of 7 years by establishing six milk processing plants across the state under this company.

5. Pandemics have hit most businesses, the overall industrial sector. How the department has been able to sustain post-pandemic?

 During the course of the pandemic, we were working uninterruptedly and milk marketing under the organized and unorganized sectors was maintained without any disruption. The district administration had permitted both the organized and unorganized sectors to continue milk carrying, inter-district cattle feed transportation, and milk marketing, and even door-to-door marketing was also encouraged. The milk parlor located at Khanapara was kept open round the pandemic and was delivering its services to its consumers.

6. Has the Directorate of Dairy Development been involved in CSR activities? If yes, how actively it has been a part of CSR activities?

We are not yet involved in any CSR activities as of now. However, several proposals benefitting the dairy farmers are under consideration.