Surendranagar milks its way to success

Vijaysinh Parmar TNN/Surendranagar: This parched region is waking up to a white revolution. Water-starved villages of Surendranagar district are scripting a success story in the dairy sector. Increased returns to farmers have resulted in an impressive growth in the number of dairy co-operative societies in the district. Sample this: From 221 in 2003-04, the number has shot up to 620 in 2008-09. Milk procurement too has grown at a handsome rate of 27 per cent as compared to previous year — 930 lakh kg as against 730 lakh kg last year. “The average per kg milk prices paid to farmers during 2008-09 has been Rs 19.09 as compared to Rs 18.17 previous year. This is a growth of 5 per cent,” said Dhiraj Chaudhary, manager of Surendranagar District Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd, a member of Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). One of the fastest growing dairies of the federation, Surendranagar dairy plans to start packaging Amul milk in near future. Milk procurement has touched 2.55 lakh litres per day (LLPD) as against 1.99 LLPD last year. The peak procurement has been 3.58 LLPD, said Chaudhary. There are 10 talukas in the district with 620 milk co-operative societies and 94,771 members. Many of these villages are traditionally associated with animal husbandry. But, good prices offered by dairy co-operatives are luring them. “We have taken various initiatives to encourage farmers. We are planning to award highest producers at taluka level,’’ said Chaudhary.