M.P. plans to emerge as top milk producing State

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, OCT. 9. Madhya Pradesh is currently in the process of implementing an ambitious action plan to position itself as the top milk producing State. At present, it stands third in milk production, after Uttar Pradesh and Punjab contributing eight per cent of the total milk yield in the country.

The regional milk cooperatives, Dugdha Sanghs, and 4,000 village level co-operatives functioning under the apex body of Dugdha Mahasangh (Milk Federation) form a huge infrastructure for procurement and production of milk. Under this co-operative structure, production has increased by 1.17 lakh kg per day in the last one year.

The Dugdha Mahasangh functions as an apex cooperative with a network of primary cooperative societies of milk producers at the village level. These societies are linked with five regional Dugdha Sanghas. The regional Dugdha Sangha of Bhopal produces 1.18 kg of milk per day. Similarly, the Indore Dugdha Sangh presently produces 65,000 kg of milk per day, Ujjain - 74,000 kg, Gwalior - 53,860 kg and Jabalpur - 16,646 kg.

The total milk procurement by various Dugdha Sanghas functioning under the apex body of Dugdha Mahasangha was 2.11 lakh kg per day in April 2000. This increased to 3.29 lakh kg per day by March 2001. This marked over 55 per cent increase in a year's time.

The State Government has given top priority to the dairy sector keeping in view its immense employment potential and favourable circumstances in the State. The action plan presently being implemented aims to develop Madhya Pradesh as a leading mild producer contributing at least 15 per cent of country's total milk production by 2020.

To promote participation of women in the dairy sector, self-help groups have been formed and the Dugdha Mahasangh is presently implementing its ambitious ``Stree Shakti'' project, under which financial assistance from the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh has been ensured to the self-help groups of women in more than 200 cooperative societies in rural areas.

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Section  : Other States
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