Finally, there is good news for milkmen and those in the dairy business persons.
Marking World Milk Day on Saturday, Jharkhand announced constitution of a State Milk Federation. Constituted as the State’s highest cooperative institution, the federation would work for improvement in social, economic conditions of milkmen. It would also undertake programmes to increase production capacity of milch animals.
“Taking cue from Amul’s cooperative theories, the three-tier system of State Milk Federation would make milkmen procure prolific returns. Cooperatives for collecting milk in rural areas would be established. This would eliminate middlemen,” said Governor Syed Ahmed on Saturday during a national seminar in Ranchi.
The Governor said rural milk output was far below expectation and requirements and the dairy business limited only to production and local consumption. “The State, as a whole, is seeing low milk production. There is a need for making better policies and using latest technologies for production,” Governor added.
Ahmed opined that if State became self-reliant in milk production, the rural economy would be radically changed as it would be an additional source of income.
The national seminar was also attended by the Governor’s Advisor Madhukar Gupta and departmental secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni.
Gupta expressed concerned that the State’s production of milk is 34 lakh times less than requirement, despite “dairy business being a very important aspect of agricultural activities.” He added, “There is a need for making meaningful effort to raise milk output. The dairy technology college being opened in Hansdiha may prove to be a boon.”