Pulwama largest contributor to processed milk in Kashmir

Pulwama, Mar 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has revealed that Pulwama district is the largest contributor to processed milk in the Kashmir division.
Responding to a question in the Legislative Assembly raised by MLA Pampore, retired Justice Hasnain Masoodi, the government informed that Pulwama produces approximately 7.45 lakh litres of milk daily, with Pampore alone contributing over 1.5 lakh litres per day during peak summer months.
The house was informed that the Jammu and Kashmir Milk Producers Cooperative Limited (JKMPCL) procures 20,300 litres of milk daily from 203 dairy cooperative societies in Pulwama for processing. Additionally, private companies such as Haleeb, Zamzam, and Khyber collectively process 60,000 litres per day, while 15,000 to 20,000 litres of loose milk are transported daily to Srinagar. Confirming Pulwama’s dominance in the dairy sector, the Minister Incharge informed the house that the district remains the largest contributor to processed milk in Kashmir.
To boost commercial milk processing and value addition, the government has introduced multiple schemes. Under the Integrated Dairy Development Scheme (IDDS), a 50% subsidy is provided for setting up milk processing and value-addition units. Entrepreneurs can avail ₹15 lakh for modular milk pasteurization and packaging units, ₹5 lakh for bulk milk cooling units (BMCs), ₹1.5 lakh for automatic milk collection units (AMCUs), and ₹3.5 lakh for machinery used in the production of dairy products such as paneer, khoya, dahi, ice cream, butter, ghee, and cheese.
Similarly, under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and dairy entrepreneurs are eligible for ₹20 lakh to establish milk value-addition startups, ₹2 lakh as working capital, and ₹3 lakh as a 50% subsidy for transportation vehicles.
It was stated that these initiatives have already led to significant developments in Pulwama’s dairy infrastructure, including the establishment of one new milk processing plant, six AMCUs, and five BMCs. Further expansion is on the horizon, with JKMPCL currently processing 2.5 lakh litres per day and planning to increase its capacity to 5 lakh litres per day within the next five years. This expansion will be supported through funding from the Government of Jammu & Kashmir, NABARD, and the Centrally Sponsored Scheme – National Programme for Dairy Development (CSS-NPDD). Additionally, under the Cluster Development Project of HADP, an additional 5 lakh litres per day of milk processing capacity will be established, further strengthening the dairy sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
When asked about the establishment of a dedicated Industrial Estate in Block Kakapora for dairy entrepreneurs, the government clarified that no such proposal is currently in place. However, under the UT-Level Food Processing Programme (Milk Cluster) of HADP, two mega milk processing facilities will be set up—one in Pulwama and another in Jammu. Furthermore, milk collection and chilling infrastructure will be expanded in key dairy producing districts.