Govt signs MoUs of Rs 3,000cr for investment in dairy sector

Lucknow: To promote investments in the dairy sector, govt on Friday signed MoUs of Rs 3,000 crore at the two-day conclave where around 10,000 practitioners of animal husbandry, milk producers and investors came together. The event was held to mark 50 years of Dairy Development Department.Sessions were organised on expert discussions, schemes, latest technology, indigenous breed cow rearing, and strengthening of the rural economy.Minister for animal husbandry, Dharampal Singh, said that the contribution of the dairy sector to the state’s GSVA stood at Rs 1.72 lakh crore. “The department has executed 796 MoUs worth more than Rs 25,000 crore, which will generate more than 60,000 jobs. Today, 59 MoUs worth more than Rs 3,000 crore are being executed with entities such as Ananda Dairy, Gyan Dairy, Param Dairy, etc, which will generate more than 13,000 jobs,” the minister said.He added that under the Nand Baba Dugdh Mission, Rs 84 crore had been distributed as grants to more than 10,000 beneficiaries through DBT. More than 4,000 primary milk cooperative societies have been formed in the state which are connecting approximately 1.5 lakh milk producers, he added.“UP is the largest milk-producing state in the country. In 2016-17, annual milk production was 277.70 lakh ton, with per capita milk availability of 352 gm per day. Milk production in 2025-26 has risen to 1,836.85 lakh ton and per capita milk availability has increased to 450 gm per day,” he added.During the event, animal husbandry practitioners and entrepreneurs who achieved outstanding results under various schemes run by the department were awarded. The cash reward under the Nand Baba Puraskar for 2024-25 was transferred through DBT to 139 beneficiaries.