The Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited has been adjudged as the “Best Performing Dairy Cooperative from East and North-East regions” by the National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India (NCDFI), during the Cooperative Dairy Conclave 2022, held at Manan Kendra in Gangtok on Friday.
The NCDFI Award was received by the Secretary of Animal Husbandry-cum-Managing Director of Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited – Dr. P. Senthil Kumar and Chairman – Yam Kumar Sharma, through the hands of Union Minister of Home Affairs & Cooperation – Amit Shah, who was attending the day-long conclave as its ‘chief guest’.
Its worthy to note that the daily milk production in Sikkim is around 2.30 Lakh litres per day of which over 50,000 LPD is procured and processed by the Sikkim Milk Union (SMU).
This Union has been supplying milk & milk products to the Army since 2008. It has been delivering around 18,000 litres of milk per day, along with milk products like butter and paneer.
In recognition of its performance, the SMU was selected as the best-performing cooperative dairy sector in the Eastern and North Eastern region.
The second and third positions for the NCDFI Award for the Best Performing Dairy Cooperative from East and North-East regions were secured by West Assam Milk Union (Wamul) and Mother Dairy, Kolkata, West Bengal, respectively.
Similarly, Bihar Milk Federation, Jharkhand Milk Federation, Dimapur Dist. Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd., Orissa Milk Federation and Bhagirathi Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd. have received the active participation award from East and North-East regions by the NCDFI during the conclave.
Addressing the dairy conclave, Shah applauded the commendable performance of Sikkim in developing initiatives to empower farmers, women, and dairy cooperatives to boost the rural economy.
He congratulated the State for achieving the NCDFI Award for the best-performing dairy cooperative from the Eastern and NE region and highlighted the resilience of Sikkim in persevering through barriers in the face of any given crisis.
The Union Minister said that primary agricultural credit societies (PACS) will be set up in every village in the country over the next five years, which will be highly beneficial for the NE States. Currently, 65,000 active PACS are working in the country, he added.
