Himachal Pradesh Signs 3 MoUs with NDDB to Strengthen Dairy Sector & Boost Milk Processing

Current Context: On 16 March 2026, Himachal Pradesh signed three MoUs with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

• The agreements were signed in Shimla, aiming to make dairy a key driver of the rural economy.
• Kangra Milk Union was established to unite farmers from Kangra, Una, Hamirpur, and Chamba districts.
• Two processing plants (20,000 L/day each) will be set up at Nahan and Nalagarh.
• Two chilling centres (20,000 L/day each) will be built at Jalari and Jhalera.
• ERP software will digitize milk testing, procurement, and farmer payments for transparency.
• A ₹250 crore Dhagwar Mega Plant (capacity 1.5–3 lakh L/day) will launch the ‘HIM’ brand by October 2026, with milk procurement prices raised to ₹51/L (cow) and ₹61/L (buffalo).

Question:

Q.1 The primary objective of the Himachal Pradesh–National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) MoUs is to:
a) Boost tourism
b) Strengthen dairy as a rural economic driver
c) Promote exports
d) Improve irrigation

Answer: b) The focus is on enhancing farmer income and rural economy through dairy development.