The strategic push is buoyed by powerful evidence of recent success and farmer commitment. MilkFed has officially recorded its highest-ever increase in milk procurement during the current fiscal year, a significant operational achievement. This growth validates the cooperative’s technical investments over the past two years, which include the installation of 222 automatic milk collection units and 29 new bulk milk coolers, bolstering the cold chain and streamlining efficiency across the supply base.

The cooperative’s reach and depth of farmer involvement are rapidly expanding. Multi-level efforts to increase farmer participation have resulted in the number of affiliated milk-producing co-operative societies growing to 716. Crucially, the total number of individual farmers supplying milk to MilkFed has surged, now exceeding 40,000. This mobilization of the producer base provides the necessary volume and stability to support the ambitious infrastructure projects being planned by the government.

To capitalize on this record procurement and ensure value-addition, the CM has ordered the preparation of several key infrastructure proposals. These include establishing a new milk powder plant within the existing processing facility in Mandi district, a critical step for processing surplus milk and creating higher-margin, shelf-stable products. Furthermore, a new milk processing center is slated for Karcham or Tapri in Kinnaur district, specifically designed to supply both local consumers and secure products for the Army, opening a vital institutional market channel.