Reported by Henry L Khojol

Aizawl: Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Monday announced a set of measures aimed at strengthening Mizoram's cooperative dairy ecosystem during his visit to the Mizoram Milk Producers' Cooperative Union Limited (MULCO) facility at Thuampui in Aizawl.

Officials said the Minister noted that milk production in Mizoram remains below local demand and called for greater commitment from farmers and stakeholders to boost output. He stressed that the state should not fall behind other northeastern states in dairy development.

Singh also announced that the Centre has revised the funding pattern for dairy development projects from 75:25 to 90:10, significantly reducing the financial burden on state governments and accelerating implementation of key initiatives.

He added that milk processing infrastructure and village-level procurement systems will be further upgraded. In partnership with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), efforts will focus on improving cattle breeds through artificial insemination programmes and expanding access to high-quality cattle feed and fodder for farmers.

The Minister further said that MULCO products including paneer, rasmalai and ghee will be promoted more aggressively in Aizawl and surrounding markets to improve local visibility and consumption.

During the visit, he inaugurated the Mizo Café and an FPO office-cum-sales outlet within the MULCO premises and inspected the dairy processing plant. NDDB officials also briefed him on proposals to upgrade the existing 20 TLPD milk processing facility.

He reiterated that while the Centre remains committed to supporting dairy development in the Northeast, the success of such initiatives depends on active participation from state governments and farming communities.