Pizza Cheese Training for Livestock Farmers from August 16: DC Shimla

Shimla, July 30: In an innovative step towards rural employment and value addition in dairy production, the Shimla district administration will begin free training programmes for livestock farmers in pizza cheese production from August 16, 2025, at the sub-division level.

Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap, speaking at a special workshop on “Modernization in Animal Husbandry for Quality Production” organized at Bachat Bhawan, said the initiative will help farmers tap into the rising demand for pizza-grade cheese, which is currently imported from outside districts. Selected trainees showing promise will receive advanced training at the district level.

The training aims to generate local employment, promote self-sufficiency, and improve rural incomes. The DC emphasized that with proper basic facilities and tech adoption, livestock productivity can increase significantly. He encouraged farmers to actively give feedback and monitor animal health to prevent diseases.

Additional DC Abhishek Verma noted the vital role livestock farmers play in the rural economy, stressing coordination between agriculture and animal husbandry for sustainable development.

India ranks 1st in milk production globally, and Himachal has per capita milk availability of 640 grams/day, surpassing the national average of 471 grams/day.

The workshop also addressed challenges in animal husbandry such as low productivity, infrastructure gaps, and disease control, offering modern solutions including IoT monitoring, blockchain traceability, IVF, and cold-chain infrastructure upgrades.