Dhagwar milk plant collection jumps fourfold in two-and-a-half years

Milk collection at the Dhagwar Milk Processing Plant in Kangra district has surged nearly fourfold over the past two-and-a-half years, reflecting growing farmer participation in the region’s dairy sector, officials said.

Daily milk collection linked to the plant rose from approximately 6,200 litres in December 2023 to nearly 24,000 litres at present.

“The increase has coincided with the expansion of dairy cooperative societies and higher milk procurement prices offered to producers,” plant manager Akhilesh Parashar said, adding that the surge demonstrates farmers’ growing confidence in the sector.

The network of dairy cooperative societies associated with the Kangra cluster has also expanded significantly, jumping from 44 active societies in December 2023 to 352. This expansion has enabled more rural farmers to supply milk through organised channels.

This growth comes as a new, state-of-the-art milk processing facility is being established at Dhagwar. The fully automated plant, being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 225 crore, is expected to be commissioned by September this year to strengthen dairy infrastructure and boost the state’s processing capacity.

Once operational, the facility will process raw milk and manufacture value-added products, including flavoured milk, curd, lassi, mozzarella cheese, paneer, yoghurt and khoa. Officials note that the plant will create a more stable market for producers while generating jobs in processing, transportation and related sectors.

Additionally, two new chilling centres — each with a 20,000-litre capacity — are being set up under the Kangra Milk Union. These centres aim to improve milk handling and storage, particularly in remote rural areas where transportation takes longer.

Officials attribute the rise in collection partly to improved procurement rates. Dairy cooperative societies currently purchase cow milk at around Rs 51 per kg, a substantial increase from previous years that has encouraged farmers to expand operations and invest in better livestock management.

Pawan, a dairy farmer from Dari, said dairy farming had become a dependable source of income for his family, crediting the vision of the Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government. Pawan supplies around 10 litres of milk daily to a cooperative, earning approximately Rs 15,000 per month.

Similarly, Vikas Sareen, a cooperative member in Tangroti, noted that local interest in dairy farming had risen considerably. His local society now supplies around 1,200 litres of milk daily to the Dhagwar plant as more farmers join the network.