Manipur’s new milk brand Chumthang to bring about white revolution

Imphal: Manipur minister for agriculture, veterinary and animal husbandry V Hangkhanlian launched pasteurised milk, fortified with Vitamin A and D, under the brand name ‘Chumthang’ in Imphal, the capital of Manipur, recently.

Chumthang, meaning a rainbow, has been launched in collaboration with the World Bank, TINI-Tata Trusts and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

According to official reports, the state, at present, produces only 6,000 litres per day which is way behind the consumers’ requirement of 20,000 litres a day. Thereby, the launch of Chumthang will aim to meet the consumers’ demands with quality and high-mass milk production.

The fortified toned milk is a product of the Central Dairy Plant at Porompat in Imphal. However, later, the management for the dairy plant was handed over to the Manipur Milk Producers’ Co-operative Union Ltd after a MoU was inked between the Manipur government and the milk union in 2010.

Speaking at the event as chief guest, V Hangkhanlian stated that with the change in the lifestyle and food habits of the people in the state, the demand for milk and milk products has grown high and the state is yet to attain self-sufficiency in milk production.

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The launching of fortified milk will not only help in improving the health of the people but will also benefits the poor farmers in the rural areas of hills and valleys of the state, the minister added.

Commissioner for veterinary and animal husbandry, Sumant Singh, also pointed out that the overall items of consumption per capita in India, ranging from textile to food, is very low as compared to other countries. However, the overall consumption of milk products in the country stood at 337 gram per person in a day, which is much higher than the global average of 230 gm.

But what surprising is, our state, Manipur, stands at less than 100 gm per person in a day, he added.