Patna: National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) chairperson M Shah has urged Bihar’s milk unions to diversify beyond traditional milk marketing and expand their portfolios by focusing on value-added dairy products.Addressing a review meeting at the headquarters of Bihar State Milk Co-operative Federation Limited (Comfed) in Patna on Thursday, Shah said the dairy sector should focus more on products such as ice cream, yoghurt, paneer and fermented milk products.He advised dairy unions to establish modern processing plants to meet changing consumer preferences.The meeting was chaired by Comfed managing director-cum-chairman Shirshat Kapil Ashok and attended by senior officials from NDDB and Comfed.Highlighting changing market trends, Shah said milk and dairy products currently account for around 70% and value-added products 30% of the business mix. He stressed the need to increase the share of value-added products to bring the ratio to 60:40 or even 50:50.He also encouraged Bihar’s dairy cooperatives to explore opportunities beyond dairy, particularly in fruits, vegetables and edible oils.Citing NDDB’s initiatives in the mustard oil sector, Shah said pricing based on crude oil and moisture content had helped farmers receive returns higher than the minimum support price.Shah also stressed better utilisation of cow dung through biogas and organic manure and called for scientific systems for disposing of dead animals.Quality fodder and fodder seed production were identified as key areas for strengthening the dairy sector. Shah called for expanding fodder development programmes and effective implementation of initiatives such as the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), National Gokul Mission and White Revolution 2.0.The meeting also reviewed the recent increase in milk procurement in Bihar and emphasised the formation of new dairy cooperative societies. Officials discussed expanding Jeevika-Sudha sales outlets and introducing new varieties of Sudha cattle feed.Other initiatives reviewed included veterinary medicine sales centres, Sudha Sakhi, breed improvement programmes, direct payment of farmers through bank accounts, livestock insurance and the Animal and Public Welfare Fund.
