ITANAGAR : With the state government stepping up efforts to reduce dependence on imported dairy products and achieve self-sufficiency in livestock production, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Dairy Development (AHV&DD) on Tuesday presented a comprehensive roadmap for the dairy and poultry sectors before Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein.
The presentation, led by Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Dairy Development Minister Gabriel D Wangsu, reviewed the department’s performance, key challenges, recommendations of the High-Level Task Force (HTF) and a strategic action plan aimed at strengthening dairy and poultry production in the state.
The department described the dairy sector as requiring urgent infrastructure support and outlined progress made towards production targets. It presented data on milk production, revenue generation and future projections, while highlighting the growing demand for milk, including from paramilitary forces stationed across Arunachal Pradesh.
Officials identified the absence of an integrated cold chain network as one of the major bottlenecks affecting dairy development. They stressed the need for milk collection and chilling centres, transportation vehicles, distribution networks and other supporting infrastructure to ensure efficient procurement and supply.
The department also informed the meeting that strategic planning, institutional support and proposed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with dairy cooperatives could significantly accelerate progress towards self-sufficiency.
The presentation also underscored the department’s continued emphasis on animal health and disease prevention. Officials informed the meeting that Arunachal Pradesh has recorded one of the country’s highest livestock vaccination coverages, reflecting sustained efforts to strengthen animal healthcare alongside production.
Addressing the meeting, Mein called for a critical review of previous initiatives that failed to produce the desired results.
“We need to find out the reasons for our failures,” he said, while recalling several past efforts that did not achieve lasting success. Stressing the need for a practical and sustainable approach, he urged the department to develop a robust model capable of making Arunachal Pradesh self-sufficient in dairy production.
He also assured the department that its proposals would receive the highest priority from the state government.
Speaking on the occasion, Wangsu said the department was committed to delivering measurable outcomes through scientific planning and effective implementation. He observed that despite the state’s vast potential, inadequate planning and the absence of a clear long-term strategy had constrained growth in the dairy and poultry sectors.
He said the department is now pursuing a result-oriented approach focused on infrastructure development, institutional partnerships and efficient implementation to unlock the sector’s potential and reduce the state’s dependence on imported dairy products.
The meeting was attended by AHV&DD Secretary YVVJ Rajshekhar, Director Dr Danjan Longri, Planning & Investment Advisor RK Sharma and other senior officers of the AHV&DD and Planning & Investment Department.
