12/08/2026
A key highlight of the NCDFI Conclave on Dairy-Defence Partnership, organised under the theme “From Farmers to Frontlines”, was a series of presentations by dairy cooperatives serving Defence establishments in border, Himalayan and North-Eastern regions.
Presentations were made by Shri Sardar Chand, GM, JKMPCL Jkmpcl Snowcap; Shri Manoj Solanki, MD, LUTDCF; Shri S. Kenedy Singh, MD, Manipur Milk Union; Dr. Ramesh Kumar, MD, Mizoram Milk Union; Dr. T. B. Ghatani, MD, Sikkim Milk Union; Shri Saksham Srivastava, Mktg Manager, UCDF; and Shri S K Parida, MD, WAMUL Purabi Dairy. Further, Dr. Sabyasachi Roy, Regional Head (East), National Dairy Development Board, made a presentation on dairy development in Arunachal Pradesh. The presenters shared their respective cooperatives’ growth and achievements, milk procurement and processing capabilities, experience of supplying Defence establishments across difficult terrains, farmer outreach, operational challenges, good practices and opportunities for further strengthening supplies.
The deliberations focused on practical measures to strengthen the Dairy-Defence partnership, including mapping of regional supply capacities, development of alternate suppliers, expansion of locally sourced fresh-milk supplies wherever feasible, and strengthening quality assurance, cold-chain systems, digital coordination and logistics.
The interaction provided an important platform for the cooperatives to place their ground-level experiences and capabilities before the Defence leadership, while also understanding evolving institutional requirements. The discussions reinforced the potential of stronger regional dairy networks to ensure reliable supplies to Defence personnel while creating assured markets for local cooperatives and their dairy farmer members.
Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Limited