Medha Dairy plant in Chatra. file photo
Julkar Nain, Chatra. An important initiative has been taken towards promoting milk production and increasing the income of cattle farmers in Chatra district of Jharkhand. An agreement has been signed between the district administration and Jharkhand State Cooperative Milk Production Federation Limited regarding milk collection. Under the agreement, milk collection and marketing centers will be established in the district, so that local cattle farmers will be able to get fair and timely price for their produce.
Modern resources will be made available for this. An allocation of Rs 4.98 crore is being provided from the District Mineral Foundation Trust. Through which milk tankers, coolers, containers etc. will be purchased.
A total of ten collection and marketing centers will be opened in the district. In which apart from three places of the city, the blocks producing more milk are included in it. Milk will be procured daily through these centers and payment will be made according to the quality. This will eliminate the role of middlemen and cattle farmers will get direct benefits.
The district administration believes that this initiative will strengthen the rural economy. Animal farmers will be motivated to produce milk in modern way, while new employment opportunities will also be created.
Quality check, timely payment and technical support will be arranged by Medha Dairy. Administrative officials said that in the coming time, training programs and animal health services will also be strengthened to increase milk production. Overall, this initiative is being considered a big step towards making the district self-reliant in the field of milk production.
Collection and marketing centers will be established at these places
Ten places have been identified for milk collection and marketing. The team of Jharkhand State Cooperative Milk Production Federation Limited has got the site inspection of the identified land done by the concerned zonal officers.
This process was completed in the month of August. The places where the centers will be established include Nagwan Mohalla, Jatrahibagh and Line Mohalla of the city, apart from Deoria and Kishunpur of Sadar block and Itkhori, Gidhaur, Hunterganj, Mishraul and Gadilong of Tandwa blocks.
Along with the collection of milk, there will also be buying and selling of milk in all these centres. Not only this, other varieties made from milk like curd, paneer, ghee, khova, rabri etc. will also be sold.
Implementation will start after administrative approval
In fact, the decision to establish a milk collection and marketing center through the District Mineral Foundation Trust was pending since three-four years ago. After the plan was passed by the Gram Sabha and passed by the Government Council, the then Deputy Commissioner Abu Imran showed seriousness about its implementation. But the plan could not be implemented. Then he was transferred.
In his place, Ramesh Gholap took charge as the new DC. Lok Sabha and Assembly elections have come. After the elections, the then Deputy Commissioner did not show any interest in it and he was transferred.
After the contribution, the new Deputy Commissioner Kirtishree ji started accelerating the scheme. Agreement with Jharkhand State Cooperative Milk Production Federation Limited. Implementation will start as soon as the plan gets administrative approval.
In order to promote milk production, collection and marketing centers are being established. For this, an amount of Rs 4.98 crore is being provided by the District Mineral Foundation Trust. Through which there will be proper arrangement of materials like air conditioner tanker, cooler, container etc. Local cattle farmers will be able to get fair and timely price for their produce. -Kirtishree ji, DC, Chatra.