Jorhat, Mar 07: In a significant step towards strengthening Assam’s cooperative dairy infrastructure, the Bhoomi Pujan and the foundation stone laying ceremony for three new dairy processing plants at Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Dhemaji was held today, marking the beginning of Purabi Dairy’s infrastructure expansion across Upper Assam.
The main ceremony was held at Jorhat, where the Bhoomi Pujan and foundation stone laying ceremony was done by Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh (alias Lalan Singh), Hon’ble Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, in the presence of Shri Krishnendu Paul, Minister, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, Government of Assam, Dr Ranoj Pegu, Minister Education etc, Govt of Assam, Shri Prasanta Phukan, Minister Power, Govt of Assam, Shri Rupjyoti Kurmi, MLA Mariani Constituency, Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman NDDB, Ms Varsha Jorhi IAS, Additional Secretary, DAHD, Govt of India, Shri M S Manivannan, Commissioner and Secretary, AH&V, Govt of Assam. The Bhumi Pujan for the Milk Processing Units (Purabi Dairy) plants at Dibrugarh and Dhemaji was done virtually during the programme.
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh joined virtually from Delhi. While Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Minister Education etc, Govt of Assam, attended the program in Dhemaji, and Shri Prasanta Phukan, Minister Power, Govt of Assam, attended the program in Dibrugarh, both were connected to the main event via video conferencing.
The proposed 100 TLPD capacity milk processing plant at Jorhat shall be established by ‘East Assam Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union Limited (EAMUL) under the Central Sector Scheme ‘National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD). The two plants at Dibrugarh and Dhemaji are being established by Government of Assam, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (AH&V) under RIDF-XXXI to be operated by North East Dairy and Foods Limited (NEDFL) as Purabi Dairy. NEDFL is a joint venture of the Government of Assam and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) — to plan, implement and expand cooperative dairying activities across Assam. The projects will follow the same framework through which these processing plants including the one recently inaugurated at Silchar will work as Purabi Dairy thus extending organised cooperative dairying to all regions of the state.
The proposed dairy processing plant at Jorhat and Dibrugarh will have a capacity of One Lac litres per day each, while the plant in Dhemaji will have a capacity of 50 thousand litres per day.
Milk procurement operations in the region are already being undertaken by East Assam Milk Union Limited (EAMUL) under the Purabi Dairy network. EAMUL has been managed by NDDB since 2023. Procurement activities under EAMUL operations are being carried out in districts such as Jorhat, Sibsagar, Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Darrang, Udalguri, Sonitpur, Charaideo, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Majuli enabling dairy farmers to become part of the organised cooperative dairy ecosystem. Till date, EAMUL has covered more than 1300 villages through 540 DCSs with more than 11000 farmers.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, said, “The expansion of Purabi Dairy’s infrastructure into Upper Assam reflects the Government of India’s commitment to strengthening India’s cooperative dairy movement and empowering rural producers. The new dairy plants at Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Dhemaji will help integrate local dairy farmers into organised procurement networks, create stable income opportunities and ensure the availability of hygienically processed milk for consumers. Through sustained collaboration between the Government of Assam, NDDB and farmer institutions, we are building a modern dairy ecosystem that supports both rural livelihoods and nutritional security.”
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Krishnendu Paul, Minister, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, Government of Assam, said, “The Bhumi Pujan for the new dairy plants at Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Dhemaji marks another important milestone in the implementation of the Assam Dairy Development Plan under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma. Our objective is to build a strong, farmer-centric dairy ecosystem across the state by expanding organised milk procurement and modern processing infrastructure. Just days after Purabi Dairy formally entered the Barak Valley with the commissioning of the Silchar dairy processing plant, today’s foundation for new facilities in Upper Assam reflects the balanced regional expansion that is essential for achieving our goal of building a robust and self-reliant dairy sector in Assam.”
In his address, Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), stated, “The foundation of these dairy plants marks another important step in strengthening Assam’s cooperative dairy value chain. NDDB, through its technical, managerial and financial support systems, remains committed to building robust milk procurement networks and modern processing infrastructure across the state. By linking dairy farmers in Upper Assam with organised procurement and processing systems, these facilities will help create sustainable livelihoods while expanding the reach of quality milk and dairy products under the Purabi brand.”
Once operational, the new plants will significantly strengthen milk procurement and processing infrastructure in Upper Assam, helping build a structured dairy value chain that links local farmers with organised procurement systems, scientific processing facilities, and assured market access.
The projects form part of the Assam Dairy Development Plan – a comprehensive initiative being implemented by the Government of Assam in partnership with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to expand organised cooperative dairying across the state. The programme aims to develop modern milk procurement and processing infrastructure, strengthen dairy cooperatives and integrate thousands of rural households into a structured dairy value chain.
Through this initiative, the state aims to build milk processing capacity capable of handling over 10 lakh litres of milk per day across Assam, while significantly expanding market access and income opportunities for dairy farmers.
The expansion of dairy development was reinforced by the setting up a network of Multicare Veterinary Hospitals – with the inauguration of ones in Golaghat, Lakhimpur, Tinsukia and Kamrup and foundation plaque unveiling for Sivasagar and Sribhumi. These were also done virtually during the event at Jorhat.
The dairy development initiatives and expansion of Purabi Dairy infrastructure into regions such as Barak Valley and Upper Assam reflects the Government of Assam’s commitment to building a self-reliant, farmer-centric dairy ecosystem, while ensuring reliable access to hygienically processed milk and dairy products for consumers across the state under the Purabi Dairy brand.
