Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Minister for Livestock and Milk Development Dharampal Singh expressed displeasure over pending milk price payments to farmers and livestock owners. He gave strict instructions to the general managers (GMs) of the Lucknow, Meerut and Moradabad milk unions to clear the dues at the earliest. Minister of State Krishna Paswan said the interests of farmers and livestock owners are a priority for the state government.
Regular monthly payments ordered
The minister said payments must be made regularly every month. Funds released by the government for clearing dues must be spent only on paying farmers for their milk and not diverted elsewhere. He warned that salaries of those responsible would be stopped immediately if targets are missed or delays occur in any scheme, and that strict action would be taken against officers if payments do not reach zero pending.
Review meeting at PCDF
Singh gave these directions at a meeting held at the PCDF auditorium with the presidents and general managers of all milk unions in the state. He reviewed in detail the number of functioning milk societies against the targets for formation and reorganisation, milk procurement, liquid milk sales dues and the status of milk price payments.
He said one milk society should be formed in each of 25,000 gram panchayats this year. He asked all general managers to prepare a proper plan, focus on marketing and set up systematic milk collection routes, noting that without proper marketing there would be no profit and sales of Parag products would suffer. Farmers still trust Parag, he said, so formation of societies, timely payments and farmer training programmes must be carried out seriously.
The minister also called for increasing the number of societies to raise milk production, reviving inactive societies and ensuring that functioning ones do not shut down for any reason. He wanted procurement and liquid milk sales to grow, and farmers and livestock owners to be trained in new techniques so that milk yield per animal rises.
Progress in 2026-27
The meeting was told that the state has made steady progress in forming milk cooperative societies and in milk production during 2026-27.
- Functioning societies: 7,667 across the state.
- District plan: 220 societies formed.
- Nand Baba Milk Mission: 1,819 societies formed against a target of 1,750.
- Combined formation: 2,039 societies formed under the two schemes against a total target of 3,748.
- Reorganisation: 407 societies reorganised against a target of 450.
- Procurement: Up 13 per cent, with average daily procurement of 4.08 lakh kg.
- Liquid milk sales: Up 5 per cent, averaging 2.12 lakh litres a day.
Lumpy skin disease and drug quality
The minister took stock from nodal officers deployed in districts on prevention of lumpy skin disease and directed continuous review and all necessary arrangements. He stressed that quality of vaccines and medicines for livestock must be closely monitored and that fake or ineffective drugs must not be used under any circumstances.
Minister of State’s remarks
Minister of State Krishna Paswan said more milk societies would raise production, increase incomes of farmers and livestock owners and boost the state economy. She also stressed increasing the number of Parag booths and encouraging women’s participation.
Assurance from the department
Additional Chief Secretary Mukesh Kumar Meshram assured the minister that there would be no delay in paying milk dues to farmers and livestock owners. He directed officers to prioritise payments and to work with full seriousness and promptness to increase the number of societies.
Special Secretary of the Milk Development Department Ram Sahay Yadav and PCDF Managing Director Prakash Bindu attended, along with presidents of all milk unions, unit in-charges, Director (Disease Control and Farms) Dr Sangeeta Tiwari, Director (Administration and Development) Dr Rajendra Prasad, and senior officials of PCDF and the government.
