The Punjab State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (MilkFed), the marketer of the Verka brand of dairy products, is set to establish four milk processing facilities in Punjab, India, with an investment of INR10bn ($179.5m).
MilkFed has received approval from the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to set up the new facilities.
Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the new facilities are in line with the plans to make Verka as a leading brand which could be achieved by expanding MilkFed and increasing the procurement of milk.
The plants should meet the international standards with ISO 9002 specifications, he said.
The expansion plan would focus on setting up organized dairy farms, reorienting procurement of raw milk, scientific collection and chilling chain, ultra modern milk processing facilities, value addition of milk products and effective marketing network to support the growth of Verka brand, Badal added.
This expansion is a part of the Punjab state's plan to achieve fourfold increase in processing capacity.
In addition, Badal has also approved a scheme for women in the dairy sector which provides subsidized loans to them to establish farms.
MilkFed, which owns 17% share in the organized dairy sector, produces wide range of products including milk, cheese, paneer (cottage cheese), ghee & butter, ice cream, milk powder, skimmed milk powder, indigenous sweets.
