Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 1 Jun: The Uttarakhand State Cooperative Federation (UCF) has stepped forward to accelerate cooperative-based industrial development in Uttarakhand. The UCF has decided to revive the long-defunct Cooperative Drug Factory (CDF) located in Ranikhet and Uttarakhand State Medicine and Paramedicals Limited (UMPL) at Haldoochaur. Both units will be upgraded with modern machinery, state-of-the-art laboratories, and advanced production systems to commence the manufacturing of Ayurvedic medicines.
State Cooperation Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat stated today that the state government is committed to making the cooperative sector a strong driver of economic growth and employment generation. In line with this vision, long-closed cooperative industrial units are being revived and modernised. He said that UCF has prepared a comprehensive action plan for the revival of CDF and UMPL. Renovation work, installation of modern equipment, and development of quality-based production systems are being undertaken in both units, which will help Uttarakhand gain a new identity in the field of Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing.
Both units will manufacture traditional Ayurvedic medicines, including powders (Churna), tablets (Vati), Ras preparations, Bhasma, oils (Taila), fermented formulations (Asava-Arishta), Guggulu preparations, and herbal jams (Pak-Avaleha). Major products will include Mahashankh Vati, Arogyavardhini Vati, Triphala Churna, Ashwagandha Churna, Arjunarishta, Dashmoolarishta, Mahanarayan Taila, and Abhrak Bhasma.
Dr Rawat stated that full-scale operations of both units will create over 200 direct employment opportunities at the local level. Young people from Ranikhet, Haldoochaur, and nearby areas will benefit from these jobs, while 500 to 1,000 farmers engaged in the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants will also be directly linked to the units. He added that activities such as raw material supply, transportation, processing, packaging, marketing, and distribution will generate indirect employment and livelihood opportunities for thousands of people, thereby strengthening the rural economy.
The Cooperation Minister stated that, once both units become fully operational, an annual turnover target of approximately Rs 100 crore has been set. The units are expected to generate annual profits ranging from Rs 10 crore to Rs 15 crore. Through modern technology and high-quality standards, CDF and UMPL will be developed into nationally competitive institutions.
Dr Rawat emphasised that Uttarakhand is among the most resource-rich states in India in terms of medicinal and aromatic plants. The government’s objective is to connect farmers with medicinal plant cultivation, provide employment opportunities to youth, and build a self-reliant rural economy through the cooperative movement.
He stated that the revival of CDF and UMPL will go beyond medicine production and emerge as a model of cooperative-based industrial development. The initiative will provide new momentum to Ayurveda, farmer welfare, employment generation, and rural development simultaneously.
Dr Rawat further said that this initiative by the Uttarakhand State Cooperative Federation will prove to be a historic step toward promoting Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing, farmer prosperity, employment generation, and strengthening the cooperative movement in the state.
