State Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for production of milk in Ranchi, Ramgarh, lohardaga, Hazaribagh, Giridih and Deoghar districts on Saturday for a period of five years. Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh along with State Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Mannan Malick were present on the occasion.
Ramesh felt the need of increasing milk production across the State. “Jharkhand does require adequate milk production as it has to rely on neighbouring State Bihar for around 6 lakh litres milk production everyday. On daily basis the State is able to produce only 20,000 litres,” he said.
Notably, a similar MoU was signed during former Chief Minister Arjun Munda’s tenure. Unfortunately, it lapsed as NDDB was not much familiar with the State. An official of NDDB said, “Earlier, we were not much familiar with Jharkhand but now we are well aware of the milk concerned needs of the people of this State.”
‘Medha’, Jharkhand Government owned dairy has been connected with this project. With this venture Medha products will now be sold in the name ‘Mother Dairy-Medha’. Sources of Dairy Development mentioned that the MOU basically makes NDDB responsible for entire milk production works of Jharkhand State Co-operative Milk Producers Federation limited (MIlKFED). Also, the sources confirmed that after completion of the first phase (five years) of this bond, both State Government and NDDB can extend their coordination to the next phases.
Both the organizations have decided to keep a regular update of this work progress through a review meeting held after an interval of every six months. This review meet will be conducted under the supervision of Chief Secretary RS Sharma. Representatives of Rural Works department, Road Construction, Panchayati Raj department and Energy department will also be involved as members in this review committee.