Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Opens Dairy Microbiology Lab, Launches Churpi Traceability and Fodder Plus Products at Sikkim Event

Key facts

• Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Alias Lalan Singh) attended a programme organised by the Sikkim Milk Union (SMU) at Gangtok, Sikkim, on 3 November 2026, where he inaugurated the SMU Microbiology Laboratory under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), including a virtual inauguration of the laboratory at Karfectar.
• The Churpi Traceability initiative was inaugurated to strengthen traceability and marketability of the traditional dairy product, and Fodder Plus products developed by Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) were launched; registration certificates were distributed to five newly established Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCSs).
• Sikkim's milk production grew 79% over the last decade, from 1.37 lakh to 2.45 lakh litres per day, dairy cooperative societies rose 88% from 389 in 2014–15 to 733 in 2025–26, and daily milk supply to consumers doubled from 28,000 to 56,000 litres.
• The Union Minister announced that the Central Government would sanction funds for a Centre of Excellence for conservation and development of indigenous Siri cattle, promoting advanced breeding technologies including IVF, and invited the State Government to submit a formal proposal.
• NDDB will finance and undertake comprehensive modernisation of the dairy processing plant in Mangan district, following the model implemented in Mizoram.