Manohar distributes Rs 11.50 lakh dividend among milk producers

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 11: Minister of State for Cooperative, Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma, today distributed an amount of Rs. 11.50 lakh as dividend among the milk producers of Jammu division, who supply milk to J&K Milk Producers Co-operative Ltd (JKMPCL) at a function held here today.
The dividend has been distributed among the 3000 progressive farmers who are associated with the dairy activities through co-operative movement in Jammu division for the year 2011-12. The initiative is a policy of the JKMPCL and every year the profit share is being distributed among the milk producers of Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that dairy sector has great potential in the State and efforts are being made to associate more and more people with this sector. He said Central Government has launched various schemes to promote dairy and poultry sectors as the market has great demand for dairy and poultry products.
He appealed the youth to come forward and avail benefits of such schemes and help in overcoming unemployment. He said State is importing milk and milk products from other States as local production is inadequate to meet the requirements, therefore, it should be the endeavor of the locals to give thrust on these viable sectors through cooperative mode, the Minister asserted.
Lauding the performance of JKMPCL, the Minister said that people want quality and the JKMPCL has been successful in ensuring quality standards and its products are on high demand. He laid stress on modernization of existing plants to enhance the capacity and efficacy to meet the requirements. He also assured the farmers/milk producers that Government will take a decision to abolish VAT and entry tax on the animal/poultry feed to give relief to those associated with these sectors. He said Government has already reduced VAT rate and entry tax on maximum agro products which are being imported from other States.
The Chairman JKMPCL, Dr. Mohammad Din gave resume of the activities of the institution and informed that the JKMPCL has registered a record turnover of Rs. 18.87 crore during the previous fiscal. He said the dividend distribution is a policy of the institution and this year the total amount of Rs. 30 lakh has been distributed to the progressive milk producers in Kashmir and Jammu. He said that management was committed to make the JKMPCL a profit earning unit and to produce quality products.
Managing Director, JKMPCL Dr. Shafat Hussain Kakroo, Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Choudhary, Directors of Board, staff and a large number of farmers/milk producers from across the State were present on the occasion.