Sambalpur, Feb 25: To boost milk production, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated a 'Milk Refrigeration Centre' in Nakatideula block in Sambalpur district on Tuesday.

On the occasion, Pradhan said Sambalpur district has a lot of potential for dairy farming. The 2000-litre capacity milk chilling centre has come up at an investment of Rs 40 lakh. It will provide nutritious milk to the people of the area, especially the students. The economic condition of dairy farmers will improve as a means of livelihood. Today's initiative will increase the milk production capacity of Sambalpur district and strengthen the financial resources of dairy farmers.

The Union Minister claimed that the country has become self-sufficient in milk production during the Narendra Modi government.

Special incentives for dairy farmers, government assistance, and many public welfare schemes have now strengthened the economic condition of the farmers. In the coming days, the Omfed plant at Sambalpur Gaushala will be expanded. From that plant, various milk products like powdered milk, curd, chocolate, cheese, and ice cream will be produced. In the coming days, farmers will be given incentives under the Kamdhenu scheme of the state government. The Odisha government has decided to set up milk cooperative societies in all panchayats of the state, he said.

The Minister said that out of the total 7000 blocks in the country, the Prime Minister's Office is monitoring the development of about 500 aspirational blocks, including Naktideula block. BJP's double engine government is working to provide basic facilities like drinking water, education and health, he said.

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