Dairy farmers allege ‘no demand’ for milk produce
Ganderbal: Dairy farmers from Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district have alleged incurring losses due to the influx of ‘Pasteurized Milk’ in the markets.
On Saturday, dairy farmers were seen emptying their milk canes on the ground in Lar area of the district after they failed to sell it in the market. Some of the affected farmers say that people don’t buy milk from them anymore as they prefer packed milk.
“We don’t know the reason behind all this, but what we have observed is that scores of vehicles from outside enter into markets and supply the packed milk to shopkeepers,” said one of the dairy farmers.
An elderly woman who runs a dairy farm said that she is now mulling to sell her cows as she is unable to sell the milk. “I can’t feed my cows anymore as it involves a lot of expenditure,” she said.
The milk producers of the district alleged that authorities didn’t respond despite taking up the matter with them.
“We had gone to meet to DC Ganderbal who referred our delegation to ADC but ADC concerned never met us and we left his office with gloomy faces,” they said.
They said that milk is being produced as usual but the people (consumers) who used to buy from us now prefer packed milk from markets.
There are many milk processing companies in Kashmir that supply their pasteurized milk in pouch-packed to make it conveniently available to the consumers.
Some dairy farmers who sell open milk are often being accused of selling adulterated milk to consumers; as a result, they have lost credibility among people.
On the other hand milk-producing companies claim that Pasteurized Milk meets the PFA (Prevention of Food Adulteration Act) standards which aims to protect the public from poisonous and harmful foods, prevent the sale of substandard foods, and protect the interests of the consumers by eliminating fraudulent practices. (KNT)
Animal Husbandry department Ganderbal constitutes team
Ganderbal: Following the allegations by dairy farmers that the milk produce is not inviting any interest from the market, the Animal Husbandry department Ganderbal has announced several measures to look into the entire issue.
“A distressed group of progressive dairy farmers especially IDDS beneficiaries have visited the office of undersigned this week and reported an unusual issue of surplus milk production to the extent that there are no takers in the market,” Chief Animal Husbandry Officer, Ganderbal said.
“As reported by them, the usual milk supply chain has broken and they are selling their produce in distress on meager amounts. Before the issue becomes grave and jeopardizes the prestigious 1DDS scheme, the department has taken pre-emptive measures,” he said.
He said that a team of two doctors has been framed from each block of Ganderbal to ascertain the factual position and possible remedial measures.
“Prima facie, marketing of milk seems to be faltered for which it has been proposed that JKMPCL may be roped in so that at least one BMC per block is made operational”.
“ Further value addition and milk processing has to be a way forward. The department is providing 50% subsidy for establishment of milk processing equipment like, Paneer making and curd making machine. The same has been proposed to the concerned farmers as well,” he said.
“The progressive farmers have been stressed to focus on linking the supply and demand areas. Meanwhile, they have been encouraged to constitute their own dairy cooperative society and supply their fresh farm produce to the demand areas. The department has offered assistance in constitution of the same and subsidizing the milk vans and BMCs as and when needed at a 50% subsidy rate,” the official added.
He said that two dairy cooperative societies have been framed in Ganderbal this year only, one of which happens to be in Lar block. The same society can be helpful in roping in all the progressive dairy farmers of Lar block to make the society self-sufficient and vibrant.
