Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Monday chaired a detailed review meeting of the Agriculture Production Department (APD) to finalise a multi-crore initiative aimed at enhancing milk production, processing, and value-addition across Jammu Kashmir.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the Additional Chief Secretary, APD; Principal Secretary, Finance; Commissioner Secretary, Cooperatives; Secretary, RDD; Managing Director, HADP; and representatives from NABARD. Officials presented a seven-year roadmap (2026–27 to 2033–34) designed to integrate over five lakh dairy farmers into an organised, technology-driven value chain.
The plan focuses on establishing modern, automated milk processing plants in key production zones and creating a decentralised network of milk collection, chilling, and allied infrastructure. Each plant will have an initial processing capacity, expandable up to one lakh litres per day (LLPD), covering at least 20 percent of local milk production. The scheme will be implemented through farmer-owned organisations, including Cooperatives, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs/FPCs), and Self-Help Group (SHG) cluster federations, with technical support from the NDDB and JK Animal Husbandry Department.
ACS APD Shailendra Kumar noted that JK ranks eighth nationally in milk production, producing around 80 LLPD, of which only 4 LLPD is processed. With a projected growth rate of 6.55 percent CAGR, milk production in the UT is expected to reach 50.74 million tonnes by 2031–32. The initiative aims to ensure better remuneration, transparency, and long-term sustainability for dairy farmers while fostering balanced geographical development across the Union Territory.