Himachal Pradesh is taking a major step towards dairy modernisation with the upcoming Dhagwar Milk Plant in Kangra, announced as the state’s most advanced dairy facility by Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Chandra Kumar.
The ₹225-crore project, nearly 41 per cent complete, will feature automated systems and advanced processing technologies to handle 100,000 litres of milk per day. Designed to maintain high hygiene standards, the plant aims to enhance both efficiency and product quality.
Product diversification lies at its core, with plans to process milk, curd, paneer, khoya, mozzarella cheese, lassi, and flavoured milk. This approach shifts Himachal’s dairy sector from raw milk sales towards value-added products with higher market potential.
Kumar highlighted that the project would boost farmer incomes with procurement prices set at ₹50 per litre for cow milk and ₹61 per litre for buffalo milk while also creating rural employment and strengthening local economies.
The Dhagwar plant reflects a broader transformation in India’s dairy sector: integrating technology, efficiency and value creation to empower producers. If completed on schedule, it could become a model for sustainable and inclusive dairy growth across hill states.