The daily milk procurement has crossed one lakh litre mark in Ariyalur district following a comprehensive dairy development programme launched to benefit primary milk producers’ societies. The measures included maximum utilisation of programmes such as National Agricultural Development Programme (NADP), drought relief fund scheme, and strengthening of infrastructure for quality and clean milk production, according to Collector E. Saravanavelraj.
Explaining the subsidy-based schemes implemented to give an impetus to milk production, he said fodder crop cultivation was encouraged under these schemes. Setting up of group chilling plants at Vilangudi Kaikatti and Keezhapazhur has augmented the production. The work on setting up a chilling plant in Jayamkondam is expected to be completed by the end of this month. These group milk chilling plants have come up at an expenditure of Rs. 82.7 lakh. A total of 90 new cooperative societies were formed in the district under the NADP during 2012-13, of which 65 societies have been supplying milk.
Treatment to livestock at an expenditure of Rs. 7.56 lakh has been in progress. A couple of veterinary consultants have been appointed under the scheme for ascertaining the quality of the milk while primary cooperative societies have been sanctioned a dozen milk analysers with stirrer and printer at an expenditure of Rs. 4.38 lakh.
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Subsidy has been released to the tune of Rs. 51.83 lakh to the cooperative societies under the drought relief fund scheme for the purchase of livestock feed. This apart, about 17 tonnes of mineral salt has been distributed at a subsidy of Rs. 4.25 lakh.