Agartala, May 17: Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha on Saturday reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to achieving self-sufficiency in the production of fish, meat, milk, and eggs within the next five years. Speaking at the inauguration of the 40 TLPD Dairy Unit-II in Bamutia, Dr. Saha emphasized that animal husbandry has been prioritized for driving rural economic development.
The new dairy processing unit, set up under the National Programme for Dairy Development, has been developed at a cost of ₹22 crore—of which ₹19.41 crore was contributed by the central government and ₹2.60 crore by the state. The facility will produce various high-quality dairy products, including milk, curd, paneer, lassi, and ice cream, benefiting consumers in West Tripura, Khowai, Sepahijala, Gomati, and South districts.
“Today is a proud moment for Tripura. This project reflects coordinated efforts between the Animal Resources Development Department and the Cooperative Department,” said Dr. Saha. He added that such initiatives will help double the income of farmers and livestock owners, while also generating employment.
Dr. Saha also emphasized the importance of maintaining quality across the supply chain and improving the state’s milk marketing and collection infrastructure. He called for better skill development and training for those involved in the dairy sector, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on capacity building.
Tripura currently ranks first in the Northeast in per capita egg availability and second in milk. Egg production rose from ₹33.85 crore in FY 2022–23 to ₹35.96 crore in FY 2023–24, while milk production increased from 230.12 MT to 247.31 MT in the same period.
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, MoS Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, and other dignitaries were present at the event.