MAKWANPUR: The Hetauda Milk Distribution Project has recently acquired approximately 20,000 liters of milk from Tarai districts.

Out of this total, 12,000 liters are dispatched to Biratnagar for powder milk production, while 6,000 liters are directed to the Hetauda Milk Development Board.

On a daily basis, the project sells 4,000 liters of milk to local consumers in Birgunj (Parsa), Bharatpur, Narayangadh (Chitwan), and Hetauda (Makwanpur).

The project sources milk from 200 cooperatives in Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa in the Madhes province, and Bagmati in Makwanpur.

Despite Tarai farmers producing over 200,000 liters of milk daily, demand in the local markets of Birgunj, Narayangadh, and Hetauda has not risen, as stated by Rajiv Khanal, the project’s head.

To address this, a technical team from the project plans to engage with public representatives and local consumers in Birgunj, Bharatpur, and Hetauda, aiming to stimulate increased demand in these cities.

In response to lower market demand, the project has taken steps to boost milk consumption. It presently produces 700 liters of curd, 900 kg of ghee, 400 kg of paneer, and 500 kg of butter.

Additionally, various types of sweets are being manufactured.

The project’s Information Officer, Krishna Bahadur Shrestha, reported that daily milk procurement has been scaled back by 2,000 liters due to subdued local market demand.

Fully owned by the Government of Nepal, the project employs 150 individuals.