Leh, April 30: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah is set to inaugurate and lay the foundation for a series of dairy infrastructure and cooperative sector initiatives in Ladakh on May 1, in a move aimed at strengthening rural livelihoods and boosting the region’s dairy economy.
The programme will be held at the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies in Leh and will also be attended by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena.
According to an official statement issued by the Press Information Bureau, the event will mark the launch and foundation-laying of multiple projects aimed at enhancing milk processing capacity, strengthening cold-chain infrastructure, and improving market access for local dairy farmers.
Key highlights include the foundation stone laying of a 10 tonnes-per-day dairy plant in Kargil and the inauguration of new dairy processing units in Leh, including facilities for curd and paneer production. A Bulk Milk Cooler system will also be launched to improve milk storage and transportation systems in the region.
In a push toward digitalisation of the cooperative sector, the minister will launch an Android-based Automated Milk Collection System (AMCS), aimed at streamlining procurement processes and ensuring transparency in payments to farmers.
The programme will also see the flagging off of a mobile milk testing laboratory to strengthen quality assurance mechanisms at the grassroots level. Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed among stakeholders to enhance the marketing and distribution of dairy products, improving value realisation for local producers.
Progressive dairy farmers from Ladakh will be felicitated during the event, in line with the government’s broader push to promote cooperative-led development under its “Sahkar se Samriddhi” vision.
Officials said the initiatives are expected to significantly strengthen the dairy value chain in Ladakh, enhance farmer incomes, and promote inclusive economic growth in the Union Territory.
