Parliamentary panel visits Verka plant, reviews dairy infra

Mohali: A 31-member parliamentary delegation Monday visited the Verka milk plant in Mohali to review dairy infrastructure, procurement systems and processing operations in Punjab.The delegation, comprising MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, is part of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing on a week-long study tour covering Srinagar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Shimla and Haryana to assess ground realities and identify policy gaps in key sectors.Hosted by Milkfed Punjab, the team was welcomed by managing director Rahul Gupta along with board members, senior officials and representatives from the Union and state animal husbandry departments.During the visit, MPs inspected the plant’s milk procurement network, processing operations, quality control systems, packaging units and cold chain infrastructure. They were briefed on Milkfed Punjab’s role in supporting over 3.75 lakh milk producers through the cooperative model and supplying dairy products under the Verka brand.Members were informed that Punjab produces nearly 384 lakh litres of milk daily and has the highest per capita availability in the country at 1,318 grams per day.Officials also made presentations on procurement, processing capacity, value-added products and initiatives aimed at boosting farmers’ incomes and ensuring nutritional security.The committee discussed challenges such as regional processing capacities, cold chain expansion and value addition, while appreciating Milkfed’s role in strengthening rural livelihoods.Gupta said Verka is expanding capacity, modernising infrastructure and diversifying products in line with Milkfed’s Vision 2026 to double production and processing.