Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for what is being billed as the world's largest curd production plant in West Bengal. This significant ₹700 crore dairy project, undertaken by Amul, is poised to dramatically increase milk processing capabilities and bolster the state's cooperative network.
The ambitious project, situated at the Howrah Food Park under the Amul Bengal Dairy Project, is designed to process approximately 30 lakh litres of milk per day once fully operational. Its extensive capacity will include the daily production of around 1,000 metric tonnes (10 lakh kg) of curd and other cultured dairy products. Furthermore, the facility will package 10 lakh litres of milk, process 2 lakh litres of UHT milk, manufacture 1 lakh litres of ice cream, 20 metric tonnes of paneer, 10 metric tonnes each of ghee and sweets, and 2.5 lakh packs of flavoured milk daily.
Boosting the Cooperative Sector
The establishment of this plant is expected to significantly benefit the region's dairy farmers. Currently, Amul's cooperative network in West Bengal engages over 1.25 lakh milk farmers, including more than 30,000 women, and procures around nine lakh litres of milk from the state daily. The new facility will provide a massive uplift to this existing infrastructure.
During the foundation stone ceremony, Home Minister Shah will also distribute registration certificates to representatives from over 200 newly formed dairy cooperative societies and 11 new multipurpose rural cooperative societies. These initiatives fall under the Centre's 'White Revolution 2.0' program, aimed at modernising and expanding India's dairy sector.
Digital Transformation for Cooperatives
In a move towards digital governance, Shah will also launch the e-RCS portal for the computerisation of the Registrar of Cooperative Societies' office in West Bengal. This portal is intended to streamline and digitise the registration and administrative processes for cooperative societies across the state, enhancing efficiency and transparency.
The Amul project's 'Bhumi Pujan' event marks the conclusion of Home Minister Shah's three-day visit to West Bengal, during which he also reviewed the state's law and order situation and inaugurated a 'Word Museum' in Kolkata.