The new Aavin chilling plant coming up at an estimate of Rs. 2.99 crore at Thirugokarnam in the town will take the Aavin brand to the semi-urban and rural pockets in the district. Pasteurised Aavin milk is not available now in semi-urban areas like Viralimalai, Gandarvakottai, Alangudi, and distant coastal villages such as Kottaipattinam, Meemisal, and Kattumavadi. This has come as an advantage to private milk firms who had been marketing the pasteurised milk to the public.
Although Pudukottai district had been producing an average of 30,000 litres a day, the quantity is immediately despatched to the chilling plants in Tiruchi, Manapparai, or Karaikudi.
“We are unable to store the milk in the absence of the chilling plant. But the new unit being built under the Integrated Dairy Development Programme, will facilitate not only storage and pasteurisation but also expand in terms of production and marketing,” says R. Selvaraj, General Manager, Pudukottai District Milk Producers’ Union, explaining the needs of the milk producers and consumers across the district.
Supply of Aavin milk to all villages and towns across the district would be assured shortly after the work on the chilling plant is completed. Only 4,100 of the total 24,000 production members attached to 155 milk societies were active now. The chilling plant would not only cover all the members but provide scope for starting new societies in potential pockets.
The union has identified only three marketing routes so far and it would soon be doubled to six, says S. Bhuvaneswaran, Manager, Milk Production of the union.
He points out that the milk routes would be strengthened from nine to 15.
The civil works of the building has been completed. Machinery at the pre-packing room, chilling plant, storage chamber, boiler room, and effluent treatment plant were being erected.
Focus would be on strengthening the infrastructure for the primary production societies through provision of furniture and other basic needs, for which Rs. 50 lakh has been included in the estimate.
An administrative office has been sanctioned for an estimated Rs. 1.10 crore under the National Agriculture Development Programme. Work on the construction of the building would be taken up in course of time.
