Himachal to Set Up Modern Milk Processing Plants Across State: Digital Push to Empower Farmers. 

Dairy infrastructure gets a major boost with new plants in Nahan, Nalagarh, Mohal, and Rohru; farmers to access real-time updates via mobile phones. 

Shimla:

In a landmark move aimed at strengthening the rural economy and modernizing the dairy sector, the Himachal Pradesh Government has approved the establishment of new milk processing plants at Nahan, Nalagarh, Mohal, and Rohru, along with a milk chilling centre at Jalari (Hamirpur) and a bulk milk cooler at Jhalera (Una).

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced the initiative as part of the government’s broader commitment to rural development and farmer welfare. “With over 90% of our population living in rural areas and engaged in agriculture, dairy development has become a key priority. These new plants will improve milk collection, ensure fair compensation, and raise the quality of milk across the state,” he said.

Tech-Driven Dairy: ERP System to Ensure Transparency

To improve transparency and efficiency, the Himachal Pradesh Milk Federation (Milkfed) is set to launch an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that will allow dairy farmers to receive real-time updates on their mobile phones. Farmers will be able to track:

• Milk collection status
• Payment updates
• Quality test results
• Procurement rates

The ERP platform aims to digitize every transaction, reducing manual errors and eliminating the possibility of manipulation. Payments will be directly transferred to farmers’ bank accounts, and records will be maintained digitally, making the system faster and more reliable.

“This is a transformative step. Our farmers will now have complete transparency and control over their dairy contributions and earnings,” said the Chief Minister.

New Dairy Products, More Opportunities

Adding to the state’s dairy infrastructure, a state-of-the-art Milk Processing Plant in Dhagwar (Kangra district) is under construction and is expected to further diversify Himachal’s dairy product offerings. Once operational, it will produce:

• Curd
• Lassi
• Butter
• Ghee
• Paneer
• Flavoured milk
• Khoya
• Mozzarella cheese

This facility is expected to benefit dairy farmers significantly by ensuring fair and remunerative prices.

Himachal Leads the Nation with Milk MSP Scheme

Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in India to implement a Minimum Support Price (MSP) Scheme for milk, under which:

• Cow milk is procured at Rs. 51 per litre
• Buffalo milk at Rs. 61 per litre
• A transport subsidy of Rs. 2 per litre is provided to farmers delivering milk more than 2 km from notified collection centres

“This unique MSP initiative showcases our commitment to rural prosperity through sustained investment in animal husbandry and dairy,” said CM Sukhu, adding that milk procurement by Milkfed has already reached record levels, with improved quality standards.

A Model for Rural Empowerment

With this comprehensive package—spanning infrastructure, technology, and policy—the Himachal Pradesh Government aims to create a sustainable dairy ecosystem that supports both economic growth and farmer empowerment.

The new projects are expected to be rolled out in phases over the coming months, transforming Himachal into a model state for dairy development in India.

Buddhi Singh Thakur, Chairman of HP Milkfed appreciated the efforts of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.