Guwahati: Two significant Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed at Advantage Assam 2.0 on February 26 are set to drive transformative changes in Assam’s dairy and organic farming sectors.
The agreements, involving the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the West Assam Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union Limited (WAMUL), as well as the National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) and North East Dairy and Foods Limited (NEDFL), mark a major step towards agricultural growth in the state.
In the dairy sector, NDDB and WAMUL have committed to doubling the processing capacity of Purabi Dairy’s Panjabari plant in Guwahati. The ₹100 crore expansion project will increase daily milk processing from 1.5 lakh litres to 3 lakh litres, significantly boosting the state’s dairy production. Additionally, the plant will see an expansion in fermented milk product production, increasing output from 20 to 50 metric tons per day, while a new ice cream manufacturing unit with a 20 TLPD capacity will also be established. The agreement was signed in the presence of Cooperation Minister Jogen Mohan, Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika, and Additional Chief Secretary Dr. B Kalyan Chakravarthy.
Simultaneously, a major boost to organic farming in Assam comes with the signing of an MoU between NCOL and NEDFL, which will lead to the establishment of an Organic Demo Farm cum Food Innovation Hub in the state. The facility will process organic raw materials sourced from across the Northeast and train at least 1,000 farmers in organic farming techniques over the next two years. Additionally, it aims to develop market-ready organic products and drive large-scale commercialization.
NCOL, backed by the Ministry of Cooperation, is promoted by NDDB alongside national cooperative organizations such as NCCF, NAFED, GCMMF, and NCDC. The project aims to overcome challenges related to the lack of certified organic processing centers and limited knowledge dissemination in the region.
Both initiatives are expected to strengthen Assam’s rural economy, enhance productivity, improve market linkages, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers, marking a significant step forward in the state’s agriculture and dairy industries.