Guwahati: The renovated dairy processing plant at Gungoor, Silchar, was officially inaugurated on Sunday, marking the formal introduction of organized cooperative dairying in Assam’s Barak Valley.
The plant, which had remained defunct for several years under the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department (AHVD), was handed over to North East Dairy and Foods Limited (NEDFL) – a joint venture of the Assam government and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) – for renovation and operationalisation under the Assam Dairy Development Plan.
The facility has been upgraded with new machinery to process 20,000 litres of milk per day. Renovation work was completed in under 10 months by IDMC Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of NDDB.
With the plant’s commissioning, consumers in Silchar and surrounding areas will have access to hygienically packed fresh pouch milk under the Purabi brand. The company will introduce ‘Purabi Plus’ milk in 250ml and 500ml pouches, priced at Rs 18 and Rs 35 respectively. The milk contains 4.5% fat and 8.5% solids-not-fat (SNF).
Other dairy products, including sweet curd, plain curd, lassi, paneer, ghee, ice cream, and flavored milk, will also be available.
According to officials, the plant will ensure quality-assured milk for consumers while creating stable procurement channels and income opportunities for local dairy farmers. The move is part of the state government’s broader plan to achieve 10 lakh litres of milk processing per day across Assam.
NEDFL and NDDB have invested Rs 10 crore in the plant’s renovation, with additional financial support from the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF). NDDB Dairy Services has also provided Rs 2 crore to support initial milk procurement activities and assist in setting up a producer organization under the Assam State and National Rural Livelihood Missions (ASRLM/NRLM).
The inauguration was attended by ministers for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, and Barak Valley Development, NDDB representatives, MPs, MLAs, local officials, and farmers.
Officials highlighted that the launch provides a structured dairy ecosystem in the Barak Valley, which previously relied primarily on loose or UHT milk, and emphasizes the importance of refrigeration to maintain the freshness of pouch milk.