Assam's Ambitious Dairy Production Goals Set for 2030

Guwahati's Dairy Aspirations

Guwahati, July 20: Assam is determined to dominate the dairy sector in the Northeast, with a target to achieve self-sufficiency by 2030. The state government has set an ambitious goal to increase daily milk production to 10 lakh litres.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced during the inauguration of Purabi Dairy’s expansion project in Guwahati that the initial target is to produce 10 lakh litres of milk each day. To achieve this, the government plans to establish 4,000 milk cooperatives throughout the state. He emphasized that they do not aim to reach the production levels of Gujarat or Karnataka.

Currently, Assam has over 850 cooperatives that collectively produce approximately 3–4 lakh litres of milk daily.

Sarma highlighted the necessity of developing a strong milk processing infrastructure, which would enable the state to capture a larger portion of the Northeast's dairy market.

“By processing our own milk, we can replace imported products and target the entire Northeast, especially since many states in the region lack processing facilities,” he stated, reiterating the goal to achieve this by 2030.

Support for Dairy Farmers

To boost milk production, Sarma mentioned various incentives for cooperatives and farmers, including seed funding and technological support.

“The government is providing chit funds of Rs 1 lakh to milk cooperatives for purchasing cows. We are also encouraging the use of sex-sorted semen, crossbreeding of Gir and Lakhimi cows, and direct benefit transfers to assist producers,” he explained.

From 2022 to 2025, the government has distributed 2.16 lakh doses of sex-sorted semen, leading to the birth of 27,748 female calves.

“Assam is already self-sufficient in fish production. Now, we must achieve the same in pork and milk,” Sarma added.

Crossbreeding Initiatives

He also emphasized the significance of crossbreeding the resilient Lakhimi breed, which can endure Assam's floods and droughts, with high-yielding Gir cows from Gujarat.

“Gir cows can yield 8–10 litres of milk daily but face challenges in Assam's climate, which affects their productivity and raises costs. By crossbreeding with Lakhimi cows, we can develop a robust, high-yielding breed suitable for Assam,” he noted.

Sarma's remarks follow recent controversies surrounding the Garukhuti scam, where 300 Gir cows were allegedly acquired by senior BJP officials.

Reaffirming the government's position against cow slaughter, Sarma stated, “We need to dispel the notion that cattle rearing or milk production is unsustainable in Assam. The government firmly opposes cow slaughter and has taken decisive actions recently.”