Silchar: Organised cooperative dairying formally entered Assam’s Barak Valley on Monday with the inauguration of the renovated milk processing plant at Gungoor, Silchar, marking a major milestone for the region’s dairy sector.
The facility was inaugurated by Assam’s Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Krishnendu Paul, signalling the official entry of Purabi Dairy into southern Assam.
Barak Valley Development Minister Kaushik Rai and Executive Director of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) S. Regupathi attended as guests of honour.
The event was also attended by Lok Sabha MP Parimal Suklabaidya, Rajya Sabha MP Kanad Purkayastha, MLA Dipayan Chakraborty, Cachar Deputy Commissioner Ayush Garg and other dignitaries.
The dairy plant, earlier owned by the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department (AHVD), had remained non-operational for several years.
Under the Assam Dairy Development Plan, it was handed over to North East Dairy and Foods Limited (NEDFL)—a joint venture of the Government of Assam and NDDB—for renovation and operationalisation.
The upgraded plant now has a processing capacity of 20,000 litres per day and has been equipped with modern machinery.
The renovation work was completed in less than 10 months by IDMC Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of NDDB.
Officials said the project was supported financially and technically by NDDB, making it possible to establish a modern dairy facility in the region.
With the commissioning of the plant, consumers in Silchar and adjoining areas will now have access to hygienically processed, standardised fresh pouch milk under the Purabi brand, addressing a long-standing gap in the availability of quality fresh milk in the Barak Valley.
Purabi Dairy will introduce milk under the brand name ‘Purabi Plus’ in 250 ml and 500 ml pouch packs, priced at Rs. 18 and Rs. 35 respectively.
The milk contains 4.5 per cent fat and 8.5 per cent SNF (solids-not-fat). Along with pouch milk, products such as curd, lassi, paneer, ghee, ice cream, flavoured milk and honey will also be made available in the region.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Krishnendu Paul said the Silchar plant is a key step towards building a self-reliant, farmer-centric dairy ecosystem in Assam, in line with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s vision.
He said the inclusion of Barak Valley is crucial to achieving the state’s target of processing 10 lakh litres of milk per day, while ensuring assured procurement channels and stable income opportunities for local dairy farmers.
Kaushik Rai described the inauguration as a historic moment for Barak Valley, noting that the region had long remained outside the formal cooperative dairy network despite its potential.
He said the commissioning of the plant ushers in a structured and quality-assured dairy ecosystem for both farmers and consumers.
NDDB Chairman Meenesh Shah said the Silchar facility would pave the way for building organised milk procurement systems in the Barak Valley.
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He said NDDB Dairy Services would support local farmers and assist in setting up a producer organisation under the Assam State and National Rural Livelihood Missions to strengthen rural livelihoods and the dairy economy.
Officials said NEDFL has invested Rs. 10 crore in renovating and operationalising the plant, with financial support from NDDB and the Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF), Government of India, while NDDB also provided initial capital support for procurement activities.
Till now, consumers in Silchar and nearby areas largely depended on loose milk or UHT milk.
The introduction of standardised fresh pouch milk is expected to provide a reliable, quality-assured alternative, with authorities advising consumers to maintain continuous refrigeration to ensure freshness.
