The Jammu & Kashmir government has launched a landmark Rs 1,433 crore initiative, the Jammu & Kashmir Dairy Processing Infrastructure Development Scheme (JKDPIDS), aimed at revitalizing the region’s dairy industry through comprehensive infrastructural upgrades and farmer empowerment.

In a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the scheme’s vision was underscored: to expand organized milk processing from the current 4 per cent to at least 20 per cent within the next seven years. This ambitious target is expected to significantly improve price realization and market access for over 500,000 dairy farmers across the region.

Managed by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), JKDPIDS plans to establish 10 automated milk processing plants across 18 districts, enhance milk collection capacities, and set up 100 milk testing laboratories to ensure quality and safety. Additionally, the initiative includes the formation of 10,000 farmer-owned dairy collectives, strengthening grassroots participation and ownership.

Deputy Commissioners have been directed to allocate 40 to 50 kanals of land for the new processing units, while the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of seamless inter-departmental coordination to deliver critical infrastructure such as road connectivity and utilities on schedule.

Complementing infrastructure development, the program includes agreements on sexed semen production and fodder development to improve dairy productivity. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) will facilitate funding flows, with strict oversight mechanisms to ensure transparency and efficiency.

Projected to boost cooperative turnover, generate employment, and supply hygienic, export-quality milk, this initiative signals a transformative economic opportunity for rural Jammu & Kashmir, aligning with broader goals of sustainable rural development and farmer prosperity.