New Delhi, Nov 2 — Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh is set to inaugurate projects and initiatives worth Rs 251.56 lakh in Sikkim to strengthen dairy development and livestock infrastructure, an official statement said on Monday.
The minister will visit Gangtok and Mangan districts of Sikkim from November 2-3.
During the visit, he will review dairy development initiatives and inaugurate a microbiology laboratory for the Sikkim Milk Union under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD).
He will also launch initiatives for the establishment of 57 new Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCSs) under White Revolution 2.0 and distribute registration certificates to five newly registered DCSs.
Additionally, the formation of 15 new DCSs in North Sikkim will be launched, enabling more dairy farmers to become part of the cooperative dairy network. A traceability initiative for Churpi cheese manufactured in Gangtok and Jorethang will also be unveiled, said the statement.
The minister will further promote two Fodder Plus Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) for the Sikkim Milk Union under the Government of India's 10,000 FPO Scheme.
He will also unveil new products, including organic honey, Niger seed-blended powder, and organic biscuits and sweets made from millets and buckwheat, marking a significant step towards product diversification and value addition.
Sikkim has played a significant role in dairy development in the Northeastern Region (NER), with milk production of approximately 89.35 thousand metric tonnes and per capita milk availability of around 352 grams per day during 2024–25.
To support the growth of the dairy sector in the state, DAHD has released Rs 7,093.99 lakh under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) since 2014. Furthermore, a special project worth Rs 2,763.92 lakh has been sanctioned for the development and conservation of the indigenous Siri cattle breed.
For the development and conservation of yak in Sikkim, an amount of Rs 100 lakh was released during 2023–24. Additionally, Rs 100 lakh has been released during the current financial year 2026–27 for the procurement of High Genetic Merit (HGM) yak bulls under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission.
Under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), DAHD has sanctioned nine projects with a total outlay of Rs 59.60 crore, including a Central share of Rs 54.61 crore. Of this amount, Rs 53.59 crore has been released, while Rs 52.61 crore has been utilised.