Himachal Milk Crisis: MANDI: The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led government’s ambition to bolster the rural economy is facing a significant challenge as dairy infrastructure fails to keep pace with rising production. The crisis reached a boiling point on Sunday when an aggrieved farmer poured approximately 1,200 litres of milk at the main gate of the Chakkar Milk Plant in Mandi.
Ravi Saini, a resident of Gram Panchayat Chandyal, has been engaged in dairy farming for the past four years. Saini disclosed that he started his venture with 30 cows after securing a bank loan of ₹1 crore. According to the farmer, the Milk Federation has halted milk procurement for the last two days.
The farmer alleged that the suspension of regular procurement, coupled with “unnecessary price deductions,” is causing him severe financial distress. Saini warned that if the procurement process is not streamlined immediately, he will be unable to meet his monthly bank loan installments.
Responding to the incident, Vishwakant Sharma, the In-charge of the Chakkar Milk Plant, clarified the technical limitations of the facility. He stated that while the plant has a daily processing capacity of 50,000 litres, the current supply from various regions has surged to nearly 100,000 litres per day.
To manage the excess supply, the management has been halting procurement from different areas on a rotational basis. Regarding Sunday’s protest, Sharma noted that the milk was dumped at the gate during a holiday and confirmed that a written complaint has been filed with the police.
Dairy farmers in Mandi district find themselves in a precarious position. While increased production was initially seen as a success, the lack of adequate infrastructure has forced producers to waste their hard-earned produce on the streets.
Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur addressed the issue on Monday, criticizing the state government for making “false promises.” Thakur described the incident as unfortunate and accused CM Sukhu of being detached from ground realities despite making lofty claims in the Assembly. He added that the government has failed in its primary duty to establish a functional system for farmers.
