September 22: The department of livestock under the Ministry of Agriculture has opened a new yogurt plant and dairy sales counter in the capital. The agriculture minister Lyonpo Dr. Pema Gyamtsho inaugurated the plant on Saturday, September 20.

The new yogurt and dairy sales counter is located opposite the handicraft Emporium. The yogurt is an initiative of the department of livestock to create a niche market for locally produced yogurt.

Dr. Karma Tenzing, the chief livestock officer of the department of livestock said the new yogurt plant and dairy sales counter will help the farmers raise the level of their income.

" The market demand for yogurt is there. We import all these yogurts from Thailand and India. It is about time that we do something about producing yogurt in our country, " he said.

The counter is operated by the department of livestock.

Dr. Karma Tenzing however said that in the future, there are plans to hand over the plant to private firms, individuals and farmers to run the business.

The yogurt plant and the dairy sales counter was set up at an estimate cost of five million Ngultrums with financial assistance under the Government of India livestock project.

The Ministry of Agriculture is also working on possibilities of making ice creams and other exotic diary products from the yogurt plant. Agriculture.