Purabi Dairy Expands Operations in Barak Valley with New Processing Plant

Launch of New Dairy Facility in Silchar

Guwahati, Mar 2: The West Assam Milk Producers' Co-operative Union Ltd (WAMUL), known for its Purabi Dairy products, has officially begun its operations in the Barak Valley. This milestone was marked by the inauguration of a renovated milk processing facility in Gungoor, Silchar, facilitated by the state government.

The inauguration ceremony was led by Krishnendu Paul, the state's Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister, signifying the entry of organized cooperative dairy into the Barak Valley.

The renovation of the Silchar facility was completed in under ten months by IDMC Ltd, a subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

With this new facility, residents of Silchar and nearby areas will now have access to hygienically packaged, standardized fresh pouch milk under the Purabi brand, filling a significant gap in the availability of quality milk in the region.

WAMUL will introduce its standard milk product, branded as “Purabi Plus,” available in 250 ml and 500 ml pouches, priced at Rs 18 and Rs 35, respectively, throughout the Barak Valley.

Additionally, a variety of milk products including sweet curd, plain curd, lassi, paneer, ghee, ice cream, flavored milk, and honey will be offered across southern Assam.

Meenesh Shah, chairman of NDDB, commented on the development, stating that the establishment of this processing facility in Silchar will facilitate the creation of a producer organization aimed at enhancing milk procurement systems in the Barak Valley, ultimately benefiting local dairy farmers.

The renovation and operationalization of the plant involved an investment of Rs 10 crore from NEDFL, with financial backing from NDDB and the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF).

Shah also mentioned that NDDB provided an initial capital of Rs 2 crore to kickstart procurement activities through NDDB Dairy Services (NDS).

Previously, the plant, which was under the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department (AHVD), had been non-operational for several years. It was transferred to North East Dairy and Foods Ltd (NEDFL), a joint venture between the Assam government and NDDB, for renovation and operational purposes.

The upgraded plant now boasts a processing capacity of 20,000 liters per day, as reported by WAMUL.

Currently, WAMUL operates three plants across Assam, located in Guwahati, Dhemaji, and Silchar, with processing capacities of 1.5 lakh liters, 10,000 liters, and 20,000 liters per day, respectively.