Shillong, Feb 14: The Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri. P Tynsong today inaugurated a one day Stakeholder Consultation on Capacity Building Programmes under Milk Mission at the State Convention Centre, Shillong.
The programme was jointly organised by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, Government of Meghalaya, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), New Delhi and Laxmanroa Inamdar National Academy for Cooperative Research and Development (LINAC).
The major focus of the 6 pronged training consultation is to focus on training dairy farmers at the grassroots level on dairy animals health, management and basic milk processing in dairy cooperative societies; management, business development and book keeping in dairy cooperative societies; health care management and nutrition and producing of milch animals. The programme also aims to improve the capacity of officers and professionals in the Department and train master trainers.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri. P Tynsong informed that the Government of Meghalaya has been commissioned by the Niti Aayog and the Ministry of Veterinary, Government of India to establish a Cattle Feed Mill in the State with an initial capacity of 150 tonnes per day.
The process of completing the DPR is on, he added. The Feed Mill which will be the first in the North East will also be the only supplier to all the North Eastern States. Shri. Tynsong also informed that the Government is going to set up the first Cattle Ranch near Mawmerang, South West Khasi Hills.
Stating that the aim of the Government is to empower individuals through cooperative societies, he urged upon the Cooperative Department to educate people in the village level on the benefits of cooperative societies. He also urged all officers present to step up commitment so as to ensure that the schemes and programmes of the Government achieve their desired objectives.
Mr. K. N. Kumar, Chairman, Meghalaya State Farmer’s Commission informed that the Milk Mission was launched in 2019 following a loan taken by the State Government from the NCDC to the tune of 2.20 Cr with a subsidy component of 53 Cr. To deliver a Mission of this magnitude, besides the Government, the role and involvement of cooperatives is of paramount importance, he stated.
Stressing that the dairy sector is available for cooperation, he lamented the fact that cooperative societies in the State have not succeeded owing to the corruption that exists in the cooperative society system and said that there is a need to break the cycle of corruption.
Mr. Kumar further added that in the last 48 years of the formation of the State only 38 dairy cooperatives were created; however with the launch of the Milk Mission, 68 new cooperative societies have been created in the past year alone. While this is an encouraging trend, there is also a need to upgrade the skill formation of the dairy farmers such that they can bring about scientific management of dairying.
Others who spoke were Dr. Shakil P Ahammed, Principal Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, AH & Veterinary Department and Shri. Sundeep Kumar Nayak, MD, NCDC.
