Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today chaired a detailed review meeting of the Agriculture Production Department (APD) to examine the modalities of a comprehensive plan aimed at significantly enhancing milk production, processing, and value-addition across Jammu & Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, APD; Principal Secretary, Finance; Commissioner Secretary, Cooperatives; Secretary, RDD; Managing Director, HADP; Representative from NABARD and other senior officers of the Department.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary took an in-depth appraisal of the proposed roadmap prepared by the Department to give a major boost to dairy development in the UT. He stressed the need to study the outcomes of dairy sector interventions already being implemented under HADP and build upon their strengths while designing the new plan.
He observed that a well-structured strategy, supported by robust infrastructure and efficient value chains, would help achieve substantial progress in the sector and ensure maximum benefits to dairy farmers across J&K.
The Chief Secretary also directed the Department to study successful models from other states to identify best practices suitable for local conditions. He further emphasised close coordination with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to integrate its expertise and ongoing programmes for optimised results in J&K’s dairy ecosystem.
Highlighting the scope of growth in the sector, ACS APD, Shailendra Kumar informed that J&K presently ranks 8th in the country in milk production, with per capita availability standing at 577 grams per day. Despite producing around 80 lakh litres per day (LLPD), only about 4 LLPD is currently being processed, he noted.
He added that dairy development is among the most promising sectors in J&K, capable of achieving surplus production in the coming years. Citing a projected growth rate of 6.55% CAGR, he stated that milk production is expected to reach approximately 50.74 MT by 2031-32. He also briefed the meeting about the ongoing interventions to boost production, processing, and value-addition.
Providing details of the newly proposed initiative, the MD HADP, Sandeep Kumar informed that the plan is designed for implementation over a seven-year period from 2026-27 to 2033-34. The scheme aims to integrate more than five lakh dairy farmers through an organised, technology-driven value chain.
The plan focuses on two major, mutually reinforcing components comprising of the establishment of modern, automated milk processing plants across production zones; and creation of an extensive, decentralized network of milk collection, chilling, and allied infrastructure to support the processing facilities.
It was further Informed that the scheme adopts a farmer-centric model aimed at decentralising power and profits. It was elucidated that the implementation will be carried out primarily through farmer-owned organisations, including Cooperatives, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs/FPCs), and Self-Help Group (SHG) cluster federations. Technical and administrative support will be provided by NDDB and the Animal Husbandry Department of J&K.
Officials also apprised that the plan ensures balanced geographical development by proposing a milk processing plant in every major production area. Each plant will be established with significant initial processing capacity, expandable up to 1 lakh litres per day (LLPD), based on future growth and coverage of at least 20% of the production through this network here.
The project also envisions the formation and strengthening of Dairy Cooperative Societies to build a direct link between dairy farmers and the newly proposed processing facilities, thereby ensuring better remuneration, transparency, and long-term sustainability for the dairy sector in J&K.