Bhubaneswar: Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati on Tuesday emphasised the critical need to connect more dairy farmers in the state with the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) to enhance milk production.
During his visit to the Omfed Mega Dairy Plant at Govindpur in Cuttack district, the Governor stressed the importance of timely financial support for dairy farmers.
Highlighting the challenges faced by farmers, the Governor pointed out that many hesitate to contribute the personal funds required to avail subsidies under the Chief Minister’s Kamadhenu Scheme.
“By linking farmers with PMMY, they can access bank loans to start or expand their dairy businesses,” he said.
Governor Kambhampati urged concerned authorities to ensure good coordination with banks to facilitate timely loan disbursal. He directed Omfed officials to provide banks with a detailed list of beneficiaries under the Kamadhenu Scheme to expedite the sanctioning process.
“The provision of timely loans will encourage farmers and help increase milk production, bridging the gap between demand and supply,” the Governor noted. He also offered to personally intervene if Omfed authorities face any issues in coordination.
During the visit, the Governor inspected various sections of the Mega Dairy Plant, including the laboratory, ghee department, and product gallery. Omfed officials presented an overview of the plant’s operations, management, and marketing strategies.
In a suggestion aimed at improving customer reach, the Governor proposed delivering Omfed milk and products directly to urban households, calling for further research and implementation of such initiatives.
The visit was attended by Principal Secretary of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Omfed President Kishore Chandra Pradhani, Managing Director Vijay Amruta Kulange, and Cuttack District Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde.
