Ladakh to roll out Mission Dairy Development, Focus on Farmer Income and Rural Livelihoods

LEH: The Administration of Ladakh is preparing a formal framework for Mission Dairy Development to increase livestock population, boost milk production and strengthen rural livelihoods, Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Rudra Gaud P.T., IAS, announced during an orientation programme on dairy development, while directing the Department of Animal Husbandry and Ladakh Oma to intensify collaboration for expanding the Union Territory’s dairy sector.

The announcement was made during an orientation programme-cum-review meeting held at the Animal Husbandry Campus, Leh, attended by the Director of Animal Husbandry, departmental officers, technical field staff and senior representatives of Ladakh Oma (Ladakh Milk Federation).

Calling dairy farming a sustainable source of income, the Secretary urged officials to work closely with Ladakh Oma to improve farmers’ livelihoods and create employment opportunities for educated youth. He also directed both organisations to conduct awareness campaigns and ensure uninterrupted availability of cattle feed, fodder and veterinary medicines.

Highlighting the sector’s current performance, officials informed the meeting that the Leh milk processing plant is operating at full capacity, processing over 8,000 litres of milk daily, with nearly 90 per cent of the output supplied to the Indian Army. Fresh curd and paneer produced at the facility are also marketed locally.

More than 1,800 dairy farmers are currently associated with Ladakh Oma, generating a monthly turnover of around Rs 1.30 crore, with payments transferred directly to beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. While several progressive farmers earn over Rs 1 lakh a month, average monthly earnings range between Rs 30,000 and Rs 50,000, underscoring the sector’s growing economic potential.

Emphasising the Lieutenant Governor’s vision of expanding livestock numbers and milk production, Rudra Gaud said the proposed Mission Dairy Development would provide a structured roadmap for strengthening the dairy sector across Ladakh.

To improve productivity, he announced that monthly joint scientific training programmes for field staff and dairy farmers would be introduced to promote modern animal husbandry practices and better livestock management.

The Secretary also instructed officials to organise regular sensitisation programmes to improve dairy productivity and ensure sustained growth of the sector through coordinated institutional efforts.