Gangtok: Sikkim is turning its indigenous Siri cow into a commercial powerhouse. The state is prepping a market launch for a new A2 butter derived from the breed to pump more cash into rural households. The Sikkim Livestock Development Board teamed up with the state Animal Husbandry and Livestock Department to get the project moving.
Officials debuted a prototype of the butter at the Himalayan Yak Festival held in the Gnathang Valley. This location sits near the India-China border. Lab tests verified the milk contains the A2 protein, a key selling point for health-conscious consumers. Dr. Pratik Kashyap, CEO of the Sikkim Livestock Development Board, confirmed the findings. "We sent the milk samples for testing, and we have received a report that it is A2. We have launched it," Kashyap said.
The Siri cow is built for the rugged hills of Sikkim and has long been a staple for local farmers. Now, the state wants to turn that tradition into a branded product. This strategy aims to force value into the livestock chain. It is a push to make farming pay.
Authorities also rolled out a new loan scheme for yak rearers at the festival to keep high-altitude mountain communities solvent. The Union government's Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying joined forces with the state for both the butter project and the loan initiative. Kashyap emphasized that these programs are designed to put currency directly into the hands of villagers. "Our government is a farmer-friendly government. We want to make such plans so that money goes to the village and to the farmers," he added. Officials expect a full-scale commercial launch of the butter to follow the current prototype phase.
Comments