Ladakh is looking to expand organised dairy activity and increase milk production by strengthening farmer linkages, cattle breeding, fodder development and milk collection networks, with the administration focusing on making dairy processing more remunerative for rural producers.
During a review of the Ladakh Oma Dairy Plant in Leh, Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra called for stronger cattle breeds, scientific feeding, fodder development, animal induction and improved breeding practices, along with better milk quality and greater connectivity between villages, dairy societies and processing facilities to increase farmer participation and returns.
Kundra inspected the plant’s processing units and reviewed machinery used for milk, apricot and sea buckthorn processing, seeking details on processing capacity and utilisation, local raw-material availability, quality standards, farmer linkages, payment mechanisms and the benefits reaching local producers. He directed officials to strengthen farmer-to-processing-unit connections to improve market access and ensure remunerative returns, while also calling for the identification and strengthening of primary dairy societies and examining the possibility of refrigerated vehicles for more efficient milk collection and transportation from remote villages.
The administration also reviewed proposals to expand dairy facilities in Nubra, including the involvement of women in dairy activities, organic certification, manure management and future expansion. Kundra called for successful experiences of farmers in remote areas to be documented through video-based stories to encourage wider participation in organised dairy activities. n and processing.
Alongside dairy, the administration stressed greater value addition from locally produced apricots and sea buckthorn, including products such as juice and other processed foods, and encouraged coordination among cooperatives, research institutions and government departments to build local value chains and increase the economic benefits of Ladakh’s agricultural and horticultural produce.
The dairy review formed part of a wider field assessment of development and infrastructure projects in Leh, with the administration examining their functioning, employment potential and contribution to local livelihoods. During the same assessment, Kundra inaugurated a 3-tonne-per-day Tri-Fusion Gasifier Incinerator at the Solid Waste Resource Management Centre in Choglamsar and reviewed emissions management, operational safety, residual ash utilisation and plans for handling legacy waste, including the possibility of extending similar technology to Khaltsi and Nubra.
Kundra also inspected the Rural Development Department Guest House, where construction and finishing work is nearing completion and the facility is expected to be ready for handover by September 15, and visited the nearby National Rural Livelihoods Mission building to review its infrastructure, functioning and activities. The visits brought together three priorities with direct implications for Ladakh’s rural economy and quality of life: strengthening agricultural and dairy value chains, improving scientific waste management and upgrading rural infrastructure. (Kashmir Life)
Source: Dairynews7x7 24 Aug 2026, Read full story here
SEO-Friendly Hashtags
#LadakhDairy #DairyIndustry #MilkProduction #DairyFarmers #DairyProcessing #DairyValueChain #DairyNews7x7