Jaipur, April 27 -- Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has directed officials to further strengthen the dairy sector as a key pillar of the rural economy and ensure that more livestock farmers are connected to it. Chairing a high-level review meeting of the Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation at the Chief Minister's Office, Sharma emphasized that the dairy sector plays a significant role in the state's economy and requires innovation and effective implementation to unlock its full potential. The chief minister instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive action plan for better marketing while maintaining the high quality of Saras products. He also directed that new dairy booths be set up based on data gathered under the state government's 'Developed Village and Developed Ward' campaign. Sharma reiterated the government's commitment to safeguarding the interests of both milk producers and consumers, noting that schemes such as the Chief Minister Milk Producer Support Scheme are providing financial stability to dairy farmers. He added that Saras products have become synonymous with purity and affordability among consumers. The meeting held on Friday also discussed expanding the Saras brand through modern retail formats such as Saras Smart outlets, Saras Cafes, and Saras Signature Plazas. These outlets are proposed to be established at key religious and tourist destinations, including Khatu Shyam Ji Temple, Salasar Balaji Temple, Nathdwara Temple, Pushkar, and Ajmer, to enhance brand visibility. Officials were directed to ensure adequate consumer facilities at these locations. Chief minister Sharma also reviewed progress on operating Saras Smart parlours through Rajasthan Rural Livelihoods Development Council in government offices, including collectorates, as well as plans to expand Saras outlets in government hospitals, roadways bus stands, and hotels run by the tourism department. To boost sales beyond Rajasthan, Sharma instructed officials to explore partnerships with established private sector institutions in other states. He also stressed the need for strict quality control, directing authorities to curb adulteration and establish a robust monitoring mechanism from milk procurement to final sale. During the meeting, it was revealed that the state currently procures around 4.5 million litres of milk daily. The government aims to increase this to 6.5 million litres in the first phase and 8.5 million litres per day in the second phase. To support this, new dairy cooperative societies are being set up, and the milk procurement rate has been increased from Rs.50 to Rs.52 per kilogram of fat, ensuring better returns for livestock farmers. The government is also investing approximately Rs.530 crore to enhance milk processing capacity by setting up new plants across districts and expanding existing units....