Tiruchi Aavin records sharp increase in milk procurement

Thanks to the recent hike in procurement prices and favourable weather, the Tiruchi Aavin has registered a sharp increase in milk procurement.

The Tiruchi District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, on an average, procures 3.75 lakh to 4 lakh litres of milk from Tiruchi, Perambalur, Ariyalur and Karur districts daily. The procurement in the four-month season beginning June, July, August and September depends upon the rain received in the South West monsoon. The season has turned out to be good for those rearing milch animals due to good rain in almost all areas under the Union, thereby providing green pastures for milch animals. It has ultimately resulted in increase in milk procurement.

The procurement in September has recorded a big jump. On Monday, the union recorded a whopping 5.35 lakh litres. It is said to be the highest procurement during the month of September. While the share of Ariyalur and Perambalur districts was 3 lakh litres, Tiruchi district accounted for 2.75 lakh litres. Karur district contributed 60,000 litres. “Situation is favourable for milch animals. Several waterbodies have water and tracts of green grasses are plenty. It helps farmers to provide green fodder to cattle,” said R. Suman, General Manager, the Tiruchi District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union.

C. Karthikegayan, Chairman, the Tiruchi District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union, said that the hike in milk procurement prices by the State government was among the reasons for the sharp rise in overall procurement. After the hike, several farmers, who supplied milk to private dairies, had switched over to Aavin.

Mr. Suman said out of 5.35 lakh litres of procurement, about 1.20 lakh litres of milk have been earmarked for sales in Tiruchi, Ariyalur and Perambalur districts. It has sent 1.5 lakh litres to Chennai and 72,000 litres of milk sachets to various parts of the State. Excess milk was being sent to Tiruvannamalai for the milk powder plant.