To bring white revolution in the State, the Government had implemented a number of schemes, but many of them remained on papers only. At present, the Chhattisgarh Dairy Federation supplies a total of only 40,000 litre milk in the State. However, the Bastar dairy plant is running in rough weather with almost nil procurement. The main reason is said to be the closure of milk societies in 2006, and it runs only in a very few areas.
According to sources, in Jagdalpur city a total of 15,000 litre milk is being supplied from the dairies of neighbouring States and Chhattisgarh Dairy Federation. The dairy federation supplies only 2,500 litre milk.
In Dhamtari district, tanker with 5,000 litre milk arrives on alternate days and supplies in the city after packing. Surprisingly, almost all the cooperative milk societies have been closed in the division.
During the last five years, no effective step has been taken to improve the situation. The cow distribution scheme has been stopped in the division five years ago, and thereafter the Government has not launched any new scheme for Bastar division. A few quantity of milk is being supplied in Jagdalpur, Kontagaon and Kanker blocks.
There are 3,782 villages in Bastar division. The departmental officers and the Government did not take any step to give right direction to the white revolution wave. If they had set a target of collecting 10 litre milk per village, the Bastar division alone could have collect 40,000 litre milk. However, lack of schemes and careless attitude of officers have brought the Jagdalpur Dugdha Sangh to the brink of closure.
Only 35 milk societies are at work in Bastar division and they collect milk for the names sake. According to departmental sources, many a times the vehicles do not reach the societies to lift the milk collected there, as the transportation cost exceeds the cost of the milk.
The Raipur Dugdha Sangh had taken over the dairies from the Government in 1990 and for a few years it had run well, but after 2006, the societies run at farmer level have almost been closed.
There are only four big dairy plants, namely Raipur, Bilaspur, Raigarh and Jagadalpur, in the State. Out of them, Jagdalpur plant in Bastar division is fighting for its subsistence.
According to the in-charge of Jagdalpur Dugdha Sangh, there is a dearth of milk in the Sangh. Milk is being supplied in the city after borrowing it from the Dhamtari chilling plant. lack of schemes and closure of societies of dairy farmers are the main reasons for this situation.