According to data released by the state’s Information and Public Relations Department, Sikkim’s daily milk production increased from 1.37 lakh litres in the 2014–15 base year to 2.45 lakh litres in the 2025–26 fiscal year. Even more pronounced has been the growth in formal cooperative procurement: daily collection through primary dairy cooperative societies (DCS) surged by 258.8%, rising from 17,000 litres to 61,000 litres per day. Over the same decade, the cooperative footprint expanded from 389 societies serving approximately 10,000 farmers to 733 registered societies integrating more than 16,000 active dairy producers into the organized cold chain.

During the visit, Singh emphasized the role of decentralized cooperatives in securing fair, transparent farmgate remuneration, standardizing testing, and protecting consumer health. To support quality assurance, the Union Minister inaugurated a newly established Microbiology Laboratory at the Tadong processing plant, alongside the virtual inauguration of a second facility at Karfectar. These laboratories will enhance microbiological screening, pathogen monitoring, and quality compliance for fluid milk and value-added derivatives.

A major strategic development unveiled during the ceremony was the formal rollout of the Churpi Traceability system. Churpi—a traditional, protein-dense hardened cheese made from indigenous cow and yak milk, which holds Geographical Indication (GI) status in Sikkim—is receiving an integrated digital traceability framework to authenticate batch origin, ensure hygienic processing, and protect artisanal hill producers from counterfeit market substitutes. Singh also introduced dedicated products developed by the Fodder Plus Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) to address nutritional deficits in mountain herds, and presented registration certificates to five newly established Dairy Cooperative Societies across Gangtok, Geyzing, and Namchi districts, onboarding an initial 60 farmers.