Bhubaneswar: Odisha Milk Federation(OMFED) and the National Dairy Development Board Saturday signed an agreement to set up a modern 5 lakh liter per day(LPD) dairy plant in the state. With this plant becoming operational, the milk processing capacity of OMFED will go up to 12 lakh LPD.
The Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, graced the signing of the agreement. He also launched Vitamin Fortified Milk and Cow Milk, two new products of OMFED.
Speaking on this occasion the chief minister said that due to the novel initiative taken by his government in the animal resources sector, milk, meat and egg production in the state has gone up over the years. The milk production has increased to 56 lakh LPD in 2017-18 from 45 lakh LPD in 2009-10. The meat production per annum has increased to 1.83 lakh tonnes in 2017-18from 1.28 lakh tonnes in 2009-10. Egg production has gone up three times betwen 20o0-01 and 2017-18 from 20 lakh per day to 57 lakh per day.
Stating that his government has filled up 224 assistant veterinary surgeon and 688 livestock inspector posts, Patnaik said another 1700 technical and non-technical posts in fisheries and animal resources development (FAD) department would be filled up soon to ensure better outreach and services.
The chief minister distributed appointment letters to the newly recruited livestock inspectors.
A workshop on ‘Role of livestock sector in improving livelihoods, food security and safety’ was organized by the FAD department on the occasion of World Veterinary 2018. The chief minister and the state FAD secretary Visahal Gagan addressed the workshop.
