The Government has set a target to have a cooperative bank and a milk producers’ union in each district of the country and establish multipurpose primary agriculture credit societies (PACS) in two lakh panchayats with no cooperative institution in the next five years. The Centre will soon bring a National Cooperative Policy. 1,100 new Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) have been formed in the country, and more than 1 lakh PACS have accepted the new bylaws. The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) will be able to work for the welfare of more cooperative institutions by issuing bonds worth Rs 2,000 crore. The government has established National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL) to promote organic products and ensure fair prices to farmers practising organic farming.
Emulating the 3-tier Amul cooperative model, bringing in professionalism and financial assistance are some of the provisions incorporated in the draft policy on farmer producer organisation (FPO), which is likely to be finalised this month and slated to be notified before September. This policy will guide the policymakers, state governments and all those involved to make strides and endeavours to develop the FPOs on the 3-tier AMUL model by making all needed support and removing the hurdles.
Farmers in Haryana will soon find it easier to estimate the milk yield of their cows and buffaloes. Scientists at the Central Institute of Buffalo Research (CIRB) are developing a mobile app to assist with this. The app, currently in testing, claims an 88 per cent accuracy rate in predicting milk yield. It will be available on the Play Store within two to three months. Scientists created a database and developed various models using artificial intelligence and machine learning. These models helped determine the maximum milk-producing potential of Murrah buffaloes. Based on this data, the buffaloes were categorised into low-yielding and high-yielding groups. This categorisation was then used to develop the app’s programming and language. Farmers will need to enter specific details about their buffaloes, such as teeth movement and barrel shape, into the app. The app will also estimate peak milk yield during their lactation cycle. This innovation aims to provide reliable information to farmers, reducing their dependence on potentially misleading advice from vendors or experts.
Dairies in Maharashtra increased the price of pouched milk by Rs 2 per litre from 14 July to match the state government’s base procurement price. A litre of liquid milk will now cost between Rs 56-58 a litre. The state government will provide a production subsidy of Rs 5 per litre to dairy farmers.
Aavin is performing well and has been showing remarkable growth across Tamil Nadu. Aavin has provided ₹3 as an incentive to milk producers and numerous measures were being taken to improve yield. The government had also made it mandatory for the farmers to avail of insurance, as in the event of any contingency, such as crop disease or cattle fatalities, they could be compensated.
A Mini Dairy Plant cum Dairy Farmers’ Training Centre, set up under NPDD (National Programme for Dairy Development), and constructed under the initiatives of the Directorate of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services and Nagaland State Dairy Co-operative Federation Ltd, Kohima, was inaugurated. This small yet important step would lead the way for greater development in the future as the state is yet to reach self-sufficiency in milk, egg, poultry, livestock, and meat production. Dairy farming has great potential in Nagaland and can provide gainful employment to various sections of society.
A team of researchers from Banaras Hindu University and Sikkim University developed a new, cost-effective, and home-based method for detecting adulterants in milk using the evaporation process and machine learning algorithm.
Himachal Pradesh Government announced that Rs 201 crore has been allocated for a milk processing plant in Dhagwar, Kangra district. The project is a collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board, and construction is set to commence soon. The plant will initially process 1.50 lakh litres per day (LLPD) of milk, with plans to expand capacity to 3 LLPD. This fully automatic facility aims to produce various dairy products, including curd, lassi, butter, ghee, paneer, flavoured milk, khoya, and mozzarella cheese. In future, the plant will also produce milk powder, ice cream, and different types of cheese. This expansion aims to diversify the product range and enhance the plant’s profitability. It promises not only to increase dairy production but also to provide substantial economic benefits for local farmers.