Amul, India biggest milk producer has announced plans to set up an ice cream manufacturing facility at Khed City in Pune with an investment of Rs 120 crore. The factory is expected to be operational in 12 to 18 months and expected to benefit thousands of local milk producing farmers in the region.
Dr. K Rathnam, Managing Director, Amul Dairy recently signed a MoU with Khed Economic Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd. (KEIPL) for the purpose.
Khed City is being developed over 4,200 acres by KEIPL, a joint venture between Kalyani Group and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC).
“Pune is our largest market for Amul Ice-Cream and currently there is a problem in supplies. We have got around 11 acres land in Khed City for our new plant. The facility is planned to commence operation within eighteen months”, said Dr. Rathnam.
Apart from ice cream, Amul will manufacture other milk products at this facility. The venture is expected to economically benefit the region.
Besides, local milk producing farmers can benefit from the veterinary services extended by Amul and also have access to high milk yielding fodder which will be made available to the participating farmers through the co-operative.