The slide in milk procurement in Tamil Nadu over the last four years has now been arrested with the current procurement standing at “unprecedented levels” of 27 lakh litres per day, Minister for Milk and Dairy Development V. Moorthy said here on Monday.
Addressing a review meeting at the Madurai Aavin Union, he said that this had been enabled by the free milch cattle scheme of the State Government. It had driven this increase in milk procurement and would soon bring about a white revolution.
The daily milk procurement at Madurai Aavin Union, which also included Theni district, was 2.23 lakh litres in June, which compared favourably with the 1.98 lakh litres in the same period lat year. The officials were also directed to further increase the milk procurement.
The milk sales had also increased to 1.56 lakh litres a day from 1.20 lakh litres last year with target set at 1.75 lakh litres.
The increase in sales had enabled the union to re-introduce full cream milk (FCM) product, of which around 6,500 litres was being sold every day. As an incentive to sales agents, their commission had been increased by 25 paise to Rs. 1.25 per litre for this product.
As was done in 2009-10 and 2010-11 when 50 paise per litre was given as incentive to all members of the Milk Producing Cooperative Societies - with total amounting to Rs. 5.39 crore - the practice would be continued as the Madurai Aavin union was continuing to make a profit.
Mr. Moorthy informed that to ensure continuous availability of Aavin milk products such as milk peda, butter, and ghee, mobile sales units had been introduced. At present, Madurai district witnessed sales of 2.5 tonnes of butter, 12 tonnes of ghee every month with the target set at 20 tonnes.
While the Madurai Aavin Union incurred a loss of Rs. 2.5 crore totally in the two preceding financial years, it was now making profit of Rs.2 crore every month since November 2011 (when the milk prices were revised). In the last quarter, the Union made a profit of Rs 5.5 crore, he added.
The Dairy Minister also inaugurated an Aavin outlet near PGM Hospital in New Natham road, which offers, besides milk, several products including sweets, ghee and butter.
M.R. Mohan, Managing Director of Aavin; Anshul Mishra, Collector; V.V. Rajan Chellappa, Mayor, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) MLAs M. Muthuramalingam (Thirumangalam); K. Tamilarasan, Madurai East; R. Sami (Melur); A.K. Bose (Madurai North); P. Tamilselvi, Madurai Aavin General Manager, took part in the review meeting.
