The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has selected the Krishnaveni Krishna District Milk Producers Cooperative Union Limited for its five-year National Dairy Plan-1 project to strengthen village-based milk procurement system and for providing technical services to the producers.
The NDDB will release Rs. 4.3 crore to the cooperative union in a phased manner for the period 2013-18.
“NDDB approved the five-year National Dairy Plan-1 project in February. We have to chalk out a plan selecting some key areas for strengthening,” said Krishnaveni Krishna District Milk Producers’ Union Limited chairman D. Ramakrishna Prasad.
He added that over 12,000 farmers were engaged in dairying with the union and the procurement capacity was above 56,000 litres from the 526 procurement centres across the district.
“Requirement of new Bulk Milk Cooler Units (BMCs) to manage the huge milk production will be addressed under the project. At least five more BMCs will be set up under the project,” said Mr. Prasad.
Only 12 BMCs are available in the district to manage 56,000 litres of buffalo milk per day. On the other hand, the work on the five new BMCs sanctioned under Rastriya Krishi Vignana Yojana will commence soon.
“We will strive to increase the BMCs at strategic places from the existing 12 to 22 in a couple of years,” Mr. Prasad told The Hindu . He added: “The union has plans to improve veterinary services to manage cattle and distribute fodder seed under the project in Krishna district.” “Around 20,000 litres of milk is being sold in Vijayawada city and 33,000 litres are being supplied every day to the AP Dairy Federation,” said Mr. Prasad, and added that the NDDB support would boost the milk production and attract new farmers to take up dairying in Krishna district.
National Dairy Development Board, published in its website, that it also selected Krishna District Milk Producers Mutually Aided Cooperative Union Limited, Vijayawada, for the National Dairy Plan -1.
