📰 Assam CM Launches ₹5/Litre Subsidy Scheme for Organised Milk Producers, Targets 10 Lakh Litres/Day by 2030
Guwahati | July 20, 2025 — In a landmark move to modernise Assam’s dairy ecosystem and enhance rural income, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has launched a ₹5 per litre subsidy scheme aimed at dairy farmers in the organised sector. The scheme was unveiled at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra, Guwahati, as part of the state’s ambitious plan to increase daily milk processing to 10 lakh litres by 2030.
Approximately 20,000 dairy farmers, associated with 601 cooperative societies, will benefit from the scheme. Each eligible farmer can receive the subsidy for up to 30 litres of milk per day, with ₹10 crore allocated for FY 2025–26. The financial aid will be transferred directly to farmers’ bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
“Currently, Assam produces around 29 lakh litres of milk daily, but only 1 lakh litres are processed. This scheme will change that,” said CM Sarma. “Our goal is to raise processing to 10 lakh litres daily by 2030, empowering farmers and making Assam a milk-surplus state.”
🧃 Key Highlights of the Assam Milk Subsidy Scheme
- Eligibility: Farmers supplying milk to organised dairy processing entities like cooperatives and FPOs.
- Subsidy Amount: ₹5/litre for up to 30 litres/day per farmer.
- Fund Allocation: ₹10 crore earmarked for FY 2025–26.
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Ensures transparent and timely payments.
- Processing Boost: New and upgraded dairy plants under North East Dairy Food Limited and NDDB partnerships.
🏭 Dairy Infrastructure Push Underway
To meet the rising milk procurement target, Assam is scaling up infrastructure:
- Purabi Dairy’s capacity expanded from 60,000 to 1.5 lakh litres/day; a ₹104.55 crore project is underway to push this to 3 lakh litres/day.
- New processing plants of varying capacities launched or transferred to North East Dairy Food Ltd in Silchar, Nalbari, Barpeta, Bajali, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, and Bokakhat.
- Joint ventures with Amul and NDDB to set up a 1 lakh litre/day plant at Rani, Guwahati.
- Kanyaka project (25,000 litres/day) nearing completion; similar efforts underway at Sitajakhala.
🌱 Beyond Subsidy: A Dairy Development Roadmap
CM Sarma also announced:
- Establishment of 4,000 dairy cooperatives in 4,000 villages.
- Initial capital assistance for purchase of cows by new cooperatives.
- Promotion of beekeeping, biogas production, and bio-CNG from dung as supplementary income sources.
- Usage of sex-sorted semen, with over 2.16 lakh doses procured in 2022–25 to boost indigenous breed productivity.
“Assam’s dairy sector is moving from survival to sustainability,” said Krishnendu Paul, Minister of Animal Husbandry. “With organised infrastructure and financial backing, farmers can finally tap into high-value dairy markets.”