Jowai, Nov 26: The Office of the Senior Dairy Officer, West Jaintia Hills celebrated the National Milk Day at its Dairy Compound, Mooralong in which Local MLA Wailadmiki Shylla attended the programme as the Chief Guest.Speaking on the importance and essential benefit of milk consumption in a person’s life, Wailad said milk is not only a source of nutrition, but milk and dairy products are also a means of livelihood. He also apprised the farmer of the need to rear more cattle to be able to produce more quantity of milk. Lauding the farmers for upholding the quality of milk supplied, he invited them to focus on the sustainability of the dairy sector.

He informed that the government has also started a milk mission and through this mission loans are provided to help farmers and urged them to take the opportunity and use it in a beneficial way.

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jowai, P.K Boro, in his short speech encouraged and appealed to all the entrepreneurs to be serious and to engage themselves on producing more milk for economic development as milk has become an essential part of our food. He also insisted on application skills in the production of milk.

District Animal Husbandry & Veterinary, Jowai, Dr. I Kjam, said the day is being observed every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Varghese Kurien – the father of white revolution, and this year marks the 100th birth anniversary of Dr. Varghese. He also informed that the day is celebrated to spread the importance of milk and dairy products in a regular diet and how to sustain dairy development. He urged the farmers to take cattle rearing as one of the means for additional income generation.

He highlighted ‘One Health’ that represents a call for health and an effective way to fight health issues at the human-animal-environment interface.

Certificates of motivation were given to two farmers, Dabana Challam, Kumkyndong, PMPCS (Primary Milk Producer Co-operative Societies )and Duhniaw Wanmi Lyngdoh, Kyrwem PMPCS for providing milk to the Jowai Dairy plant.

The office also distributed certificates of appreciation to all the individuals and group suppliers for their contribution even during COVID pandemic.

Certificates were distributed to winning students in Essay and Drawing competition.