Ranchi: Agriculture, animal husbandry and cooperation minister Shilpi Neha Tirkey on Monday stated that Jharkhand is rapidly progressing towards self-sufficiency in milk production, driven by effective and farmer-centric initiatives.
World Milk Day Announcements
On the occasion of World Milk Day, Tirkey wrote on X: “More than 70,000 farmers are connected to the Jharkhand Milk Federation (JMF) today. Our goal is to reach 50,000 kg per day by 2028-29... Jharkhand is rapidly moving towards self-reliance in the field of dairy production.” This year’s theme was ‘celebrating women farmers’.
Women Empowerment in Dairy
Tirkey told TOI, “We want more women to participate in dairy farming. In fact, there are many fields which are led by women.” She emphasized the importance of female involvement in the sector.
Achievements and Government Support
The minister highlighted that within a limited timeframe, JMF has achieved remarkable results, attributing this to the hard work of dairy farmers and supportive government policies. The state government provides an incentive of Rs 5 per litre to farmers associated with JMF to encourage greater participation in dairy activities.
Growth in Milk Collection
Tirkey noted that the average daily milk collection in 2025-26 was 2,40,000 kg, which has now increased to 2,80,000 kg daily. “This is a testament to the strengthening foundation of the dairy sector and the growing confidence of farmers,” she said.
Infrastructure Development
She added, “Two new dairy plants are also being established in Giridih and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts. Additionally, a state-of-the-art milk powder plant and a product dairy plant is coming up in Hotwar, Ranchi. These will increase the state’s milk processing capacity, provide better markets to farmers and ensure an increase in their income.”
These initiatives underscore the government's commitment to enhancing dairy infrastructure and boosting farmer livelihoods in Jharkhand.
