Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced to set up a milk processing unit in the Arki Assembly constituency of Solan district to benefit local farmers.
He made the announcement, while addressing a public meeting at Darlaghat on Saturday.
He also assured the opening of a Block Development Office in Darlaghat after conducting a study.
He said the state government was working on a scheme for truck operators, under which a subsidy of 40 percent would be provided for converting diesel trucks into e-trucks. This scheme would benefit truck operators in Darlaghat and Barmana, he added.
Sukhu said that during last two years, the state government increased the milk procurement price by Rs.21 to ensure direct benefits to those associated with animal husbandry.
The cow dung was also being purchased from farmers at rupees three per kilogram. Additionally, minimum support price is being given for naturally grown maize, wheat, barley and raw turmeric.
“Today is just the beginning, but this process will not stop. In the coming time, farmers will receive even more benefits”, he said. Another scheme would be launched soon to strengthen the rural economy. He added that the government’s initiatives would encourage people to re-engage themselves in animal husbandry activities.
The Chief Minister also launched the ‘Doodh Protsahan Yojana’ and freight subsidy scheme from Arki Assembly constituency in Solan district.
He distributed Rs. 1.45 crore via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to 8,000 livestock farmers associated with two private milk cooperatives- Gau Amrit Samiti, Paplota Samiti and Amrit Dhara Samiti, Darlaghat of Solan district and Kamdhenu Samiti and Kehlur Doosh Samiti of Bilaspur district for the months of July and August.
Additionally, these milk cooperatives were provided Rs. 1.59 crore as transport subsidy at rupees three per litre which was Rs. 1.50 per litre earlier.
The state government has increased the transport subsidy from to rupees three per litre, he said, adding that through these initiatives, farmers are expected to gain a financial benefit of Rs. 18.24 crore per year.
The Chief Minister also distributed Rs. 28.80 lakh to eight self-help groups of Arki Assembly constituency under the Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana and Rs. 34.20 lakh to 10 progressive milk producers of Kamdhenu Hitkari Manch, Namhol.
He also launched a mobile app for the convenience of truck operators.
He said that the state government was making special efforts to strengthen the rural economy and Himachal Pradesh was the first state in the country where cow milk was being purchased at a rate of Rs. 51 per litre while buffalo milk at Rs. 61 per litre through the Himachal Pradesh Milk Federation.
He described the day as historic for the state’s livestock farmers, as the Doodh Protsahan Yojana and freight subsidy schemes had been officially launched.
Under Doodh Protsahan Yojana scheme, the farmers registered with private milk cooperatives and selling milk to them would receive an incentive of Rs. 3 per litre, which would be directly credited to their bank accounts through DBT.
The farmers would also receive an instant SMS notification for which a special portal has been developed through HP NIC.
Sukhu said the freight subsidy for milk collected by private cooperatives had been increased from Rs. 1.50 per litre to Rs. 3 per litre, benefiting thousands of farmers. The milk processing facilities were being expanded through MilkFed.
To provide maximum selling opportunities, a campaign to form milk cooperative societies was started in June 2025, and 320 milk cooperatives had been established so far. The government aims to form a milk cooperative in every gram panchayat having significant milk availability.