Jharkhand CM Lays Foundation for Medha Dairy Milk Powder Plant

Anand, Gujarat –  Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Jharkhand laid the foundation stone of a 20 MTPD state-of-the-art milk powder plant at Medha Dairy, Hotwar, Ranchi on June 6, 2025. Shilpi Neha Tirkey, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Cooperation, Government of Jharkhand;  Suresh Baitha, MLA, Kanke;  Aboobacker Siddique, Secretary, Dept of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Cooperative; Dr Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB and other important dignitaries graced the occasion.

CM launched Medha Ragi Laddoo, Sudhan Organic Fertiliser and NDDB-developed Distributor App. He virtually laid the foundation stone of a silage making plant using fruit & vegetable waste at Mother Dairy, Nagri. TheCM distributed cheques to women milk producers under the Medha Lakshmi Yojna. Soren also handed over cheques towards additional milk prices paid by JMF.

The  Chief Minister conveyed, that the Jharkhand State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd. (JMF), a unit managed by NDDB has made remarkable progress in extending its reach and impact. The upcoming milk powder plant being built by NDDB represents a model of collective development, aligning with the vision of a self-reliant Jharkhand.

Soren said that Jharkhand is witnessing commendable progress in strengthening its agricultural and rural sectors. Women are playing a pivotal role in various farming and dairy initiatives, reflecting true empowerment at the grassroots level. The government remains firmly committed to supporting farmers by providing the necessary resources and technological support to enhance productivity and income. In the upcoming year, these collective efforts are expected to significantly benefit farmers and boost milk production across the state.

Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Cooperation, Tirkey stated that the establishment of this plant represents a significant milestone in strengthening the dairy ecosystem in Jharkhand, enhancing rural livelihoods and aligning with NDDB’s broader vision of building sustainable dairy value chains for India’s small and marginal farmers. Currently, surplus milk collected by JMF is transported to neighbouring states for conversion into skimmed milk powder. The new facility in Ranchi will allow JMF to process surplus milk within Jharkhand itself ensuring better returns for the state’s milk producers. She informed that the state government has been working to improve the economic condition of farmers associated with JMF by paying an incentive of Rs. 5 per litre to milk supplying members.  

On the occasion,  Meenesh Shah, Chairman, NDDB said that the powder plant at Hotwar will be a crucial addition to Jharkhand’s dairy infrastructure and an important step toward ensuring income stability for thousands of dairy farmers in the state. He noted that over the past decade, NDDB’s partnership with the Government of Jharkhand had revitalised the cooperative dairy movement in the region. He reaffirmed NDDB’s commitment to supporting JMF in its journey toward self-reliance and sustainability. Chairman NDDB highlighted significant contribution made by NDDB for JMF in terms of salary of employees, waiver of turnkey service charges & management fees and grant for various projects.

Under NDDB’s management, JMF has transformed from a modest presence in 2014 to a robust dairy network encompassing about 65,000 active milk producers, around 1150 dairy cooperative societies, and daily procurement exceeding 2.5 lakh kilograms of milk. JMF also operates six milk processing plants and has undertaken initiatives in manure management, breed improvement, fodder development, and ethno-veterinary practices.