Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 2: (IPR) Hon'ble Minister, Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Government of Sikkim, Shri Lok Nath Sharma carried out a daylong extensive visit at various farms of Fisheries, Dairy Farming and Industrial Plants in Kerala, today.

Minister Sharma along with the CEO Sikkim Organic Mission Dr S Anbalagan, visited the Fresh Water Fish Seed Farm and Ornamental Fish Hatchery at Neyaar Dam in Thiruvananthapuram. With the view to improve fish production in the state of Sikkim, they perceive the practices and the technical aspects of artificial breeding, hatching and rearing, water-saving practices, feeding and other components which can be adopted for further strengthening of Fisheries farming in the State.

Minister also called on the Chairman of Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd (TRCMPU) Shri Kallada Ramesh. They discussed on the sphere of dairy development in collaborative support and exchanged inputs and ideas to improve the production of milk and dairy products.

Thereafter, Minister Sharma also visited the Dairy Industrial Unit of Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, popularly known as "MILMA" at Thiruvananthapuram. The Chairman and the Managing Director of MILMA informed details about the functioning of the milk industry that aims at socio-economic progress of the dairy farmer through procuring, processing and marketing of milk.

Later, he made a visit at Milco Dairy plant at Attingal, Trivandrum. The Milco Dairy is a co-operative of dairy farmers who run various business activities like dairy processing unit, farm input production unit, heifer park. Minister interacted with the Board of Directors and staff to take educating information behind the success of the co-operative. Milco produces a variety of products like milk, ice creams, desserts, fermented products, sweets and chocolates etc. The high value of their produce by value addition was noted to encourage educated youths into entrepreneurial perspectives. Afterwards, Minister Sharma also visited Jaya Krishna (JK), a private dairy Farm at Kollam, Chirakkarthazham, this evening. Minister said that the purpose of the visit was for the welfare of the farmers in Sikkim with the implementations of impressive activities in practice.