Chakker milk plant: Indo-German project brings economic prosperity to Himachal’s dairy farmers
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MANDI: The Himachal Pradesh government is driving its mission of a self-reliant state by giving a strong boost to the dairy sector.
Playing a pivotal role in this mission is the Himachal Pradesh Dairy Federation, with its Chakker milk plant emerging as a leader in dairy production. Not only is this facility catering to the nutritional needs of children across the state, but it is also supplying fresh milk to households and dairy products to soldiers of the Army.
Fresh products supporting local markets
With a capacity of 50,000 litres, the Chakker milk plant supplies packaged cow’s milk to Mandi and Kullu districts. In addition to milk, the plant produces a range of dairy items, including milk powder, ghee, butter, curd, flavored milk and paneer.
Every day, the state-of-the-art facility churns out 700 kg of ghee, 200 kg of butter, 700 kg of curd, 1,000 kg of paneer and 1,000 bottles of flavoured milk. The flavoured milk comes in turmeric, cardamom and strawberry varieties, with coffee flavour set to be launched soon.
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The plant’s products reach local distributors and milk bars in regions such as Manali, Kullu, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Ghumarwin. Furthermore, new distributors are being added in areas such as Mandi, Pandoh, Nerchowk, Sundernagar, Bilaspur and Hamirpur. Interested individuals are invited to apply to become part of this expanding network.
Empowering dairy farmers with fair prices
The Chakker and Rampur units are the only producers of ghee in the region, and under the Chakker unit, additional products like Nutrimix and vermicelli are supplied to anganwadi centres to meet children’s nutritional needs. This facility also plays a key role in maintaining the health of Army personnel by providing them with milk and dairy products. The plant also prepares sweets during Diwali and other festive occasions.
The plant supports dairy farmers by procuring their milk through 216 registered cooperative societies, which are directly connected to over 16,000 farming families. Thanks to a recent increase in milk procurement prices by the state government, milk collection has surged, with the plant receiving approximately 80,000 litres of milk daily. Dairy farmers are benefiting from higher rates, with cow’s milk being sold for Rs 41 to Rs 45 per liter, depending on quality.
52-year legacy of technological advancement
Established in September 1972 under an Indo-German project, the Chakker milk plant has been a cornerstone of the state’s dairy industry for over five decades. The facility was inaugurated by then Union Agriculture Minister Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed in the presence of Himachal’s first Chief Minister, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar.
Over the years, the plant has continuously upgraded its technology, now operating as a semi-automated facility that prioritises the purity and hygiene of its products. Modern technologies like de-aeration, pasteurization to eliminate bacteria, homogenisation to control fat content, and deodorisation to remove unwanted odors ensure that the production process is both efficient and safe. Packaging is also largely automated, reducing human contact and ensuring high-quality standards.
Commitment to sustainability and quality control
To maintain the highest quality of dairy products, the Chakker plant has a high-tech laboratory for rigorous testing. Special care is taken to ensure the cleanliness of all equipment and utensils used in production. In a bid to promote environmental sustainability, the plant has implemented a system to treat wastewater, making it reusable and minimising its environmental footprint.
