Jharkhand took a step towards becoming self-sufficient in milk production with the inauguration of a dairy plant at Sahibganj in Santhal Pargana region by chief minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday evening.

The “high-tech” dairy plant at Mahadevganj in Sahibganj district has a production capacity of 50,000 litres of milk per day which can be increased to 1 lakh litres per day as and when required.

“It is our effort to make the state self-sufficient in milk production. The inauguration of the plant is a step in this direction,” said Soren after inaugurating the plant.

According to sources in Jharkhand State Milk Federation (JMF), which produces milk under the brand name Medha Dairy, the state can currently produce 1.5 lakh litres of milk across the state but has plans to increase the current capacity to 5 lakh litres in the next 3 to 4 years.

“Once we reach the 5-lakh-litre-capacity daily, we will become self-sufficient in milk production,” said a senior official of JMF.

The state has to depend largely on Bihar State Milk Cooperative Federation Limited, which sells milk under the brand Sudha, to meet its need along with private milk suppliers.

Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren in Sahibganj on Wednesday. Shabbir Hussain

The state at the moment has its biggest dairy plant in Hotwar, which has a capacity of one lakh litres, and also has plants in Sarath (50,000-litre capacity), Latehar (20,000 litres), Deoghar and Koderma (25,000 litres each).

“The government has plans to come up with dairy plants in all the districts of the state,” said Soren.

The plant, which has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 34 crore, had its foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2017 and has been built by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

Soren, addressing the gathering, said the government is focused on taking the welfare schemes to the remotest parts of the state and is looking at development of all sectors including farmers and purchased paddy in large quantities this year.

“The government is also opening rice mills in the state to expedite purchase and redistribution of paddy. The government is providing land at low rates for setting up rice mill along with all technical assistance,” said Soren who inaugurated a rice mill at Godda on Wednesday.

Earlier, Soren also distributed assets, appointments letters and launched a scheme to fight malnutrition at adjoining Godda district earlier in the day. The chief minister inaugurated 79 schemes worth Rs 18 lakh and laid foundation stones of 10 schemes worth Rs 12 crore at the same function in Godda on Wednesday.