NDDB committed to safeguard interest of Assam’s rural milk producers: Meenesh Shah

Assam Govt extends NDDB’s management of WAMUL for another 5 years

NDDB committed to safeguard interest of Assam’s rural milk producers: Meenesh Shah

7 August 2021, Anand: With a view to give impetus to dairying & rural livelihoods in Assam, Shri Meenesh Shah, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) met Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam on 6^th August 2021 in Guwahati.

Dr Sarma foresees the next growth surge of dairy institutions in Assam. The Hon’ble CM showed keen interest in adopting innovative ways to develop the dairy infrastructure and enhance productivity of milch animals through sex sorted semen and embryo transfer technology. He hoped that NDDB’s intervention will safeguard interest of Assam’s rural milk producers and bring the much needed transformation of rural households.

Chairman, NDDB assured necessary support to dairy institutions of Assam so as to enable them better serve their members. NDDB and its subsidiaries are already associated with the dairy development activities of Assam. NDDB is always committed to support institutions that remain true to cooperative values. Shri Shah also met Shri Atul Bora, Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Border Area Development, Implementation of Assam Accord, Cooperation, Govt of Assam and discussed about various aspects of dairy development and creating a road map to boost up the rural economy.

The Govt of Assam had requested NDDB to manage the West Assam Cooperative Milk Union (WAMUL), which was on the verge of closure. NDDB took over the management in 2008. Keeping in view the effect of NDDB’s intervention in restoring/reviving the dairy cooperative institution, the Assam Government has approved another extension of NDDB’s management of WAMUL for further period of 5 years. An agreement to this effect was also signed on 6 August 2021.

Presently, WAMUL procures average daily quantity of 41,000 kg of milk from 13,916 dairy farmers. Today brand “Purabi” markets around 64,000 litres of milk per day. Although the market was adversely impacted by the COVID 19 pandemic, WAMUL still attained a sales turnover of Rs 120 crore (31^st March 2021).