Bhubaneswar: Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd (Omfed) Saturday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for setting up of a 5 lakh litre per day capacity dairy plant in the state.
The MoU was signed in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a function orgainsed to mark World Veterinary Day here. The Fisheries & Animal Resources Development (F&ARD) department had organised a workshop on the “Role of Livestock Sector for Improving Livelihoods, Food Security and Safety” on this occasion.
Speaking at the event, Naveen said, “My government has been vigorously promoting dairy, goat, sheep and poultry farming as additional activities, to enhance the income and overall wellbeing of the farmers.” Due to initiatives taken by the state government in the animal resource sector, the annual milk production in the state has increased from 45 lakh litre per day in 2009-10 to 56 lakh litre per day in 2017-18, he pointed out. After commencement of the new plant, the milk processing capacity of Omfed will be enhanced from the present 6.4 lakh litre per day to 12 lakh litre per day.
Similarly, annual meat production has substantially increased from 1,28,000 metric tonne in 2009-10 to 1,83,000 metric tonne in 2017-18, he said. Egg production in the state has also almost tripled from 20 lakh eggs per day in 2000-01 to 57 lakh in 2017-18.
Further, the CM launched two new products of Omfed-vitamin fortified milk and cow milk. He said 224 veterinary assistant surgeons and 688 livestock inspector posts have been filled up during the last three years.
The state government is also taking steps to fill up over 1,700 posts both in technical and non-technical cadres in F&ARD department.
Plant to produce 5L litre milk daily
