Bihar News : National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Chairman Dr Minesh Shah has advised Bihar’s dairy unions to expand beyond traditional milk business and diversify their commercial portfolio. He stressed the growing importance of value-added dairy products and urged unions to explore opportunities in sectors such as fruits, vegetables and edible oil.
Dr Shah made the remarks during a high-level review meeting held at the headquarters of Bihar State Milk Co-operative Federation Limited (COMFED) in Patna on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by COMFED Managing Director-cum-Chairman Tirshat Kapil Ashok and attended by senior officials from NDDB and COMFED.
Focus on Value-Added Dairy Products
Dr Shah said the future of the dairy sector lies in value-added products. He urged dairy unions to accelerate efforts to establish modern plants for products such as ice cream, yoghurt, paneer and fermented milk products.
Referring to changing market trends, the NDDB chairman said the current business ratio between milk and dairy products is around 70:30. He said there is a need to bring this ratio to 60:40 or 50:50 to increase the share of value-added products.
He cited NDDB’s initiatives in the mustard oil sector as an example. According to him, price determination based on the percentage of crude oil and moisture enabled farmers to receive prices higher than the minimum support price.
Focus on New Opportunities in Cooperatives
Dr Shah highlighted the growing importance of the cooperative sector and stressed the need to utilise emerging opportunities through new multi-state cooperatives.
He also advised the development of better systems for the utilisation of biogas and organic manure, along with scientific disposal arrangements for dead animals.
To make the dairy sector self-reliant, he underlined the importance of quality fodder and fodder seed production. He called for strengthening the fodder development programme and effective implementation of NPDD, the National Gokul Mission and White Revolution 2.0.
Increase in Milk Collection Appreciated
The meeting appreciated the increase in milk collection in the state and emphasised the formation of new dairy cooperatives.
Discussions were also held on expanding Jeevika-Sudha sales centres, introducing new varieties of Sudha cattle feed, animal medicine sales centres, Sudha Sakhi, breed improvement schemes, direct payment into bank accounts, insurance schemes and the Animal and Public Welfare Fund.
Dr Minesh Shah also appreciated COMFED’s initiative to promote Mithila handicrafts.
