DAIRYING IN INDIA-A SILENT REVOLUTION HAPPENING IN PUNJAB

Memories of late Dr V Kurien who pioneered the milk revolution in the country several decades ago may be fading and the younger generation who has never known the scarcity condition vis-a-vis milk availability of milk in the country that existed before nineteen eighties needs to be educated about his yeoman service in this area. Now that India is the top milk producing country in the world, it may be time to look ahead and see what is required to be done for the sustainability of dairy industry. It is here that the forward looking state of Punjab is providing the beacon to rest of the country. Here is a report about the innovative and progressive dairy farmers in that state which can be a role model for rest of the country.  

"Punjab is one of the top five milk producing states in the country. Punjab's per capita milk availability at 937 gm is nearly four times the national average of 252 gm. And the state's average yield is much higher than the national average. But a falling cattle population because of unviable backyard dairies and a labour shortage impacting commercial dairies posed a serious challenge to the growth of the dairy industry in the state. That is set to change now with Singh, one of 6,000-odd big farmers, going in for full automation. They have formed an association known as the Progressive Dairy Farmers' Association (PDFA). Together, they produce nearly 800,000 litres of milk a day. The average yield of a cow is nearly 8,000 litres in a lactation cycle against the national average of 1,500 litres, claim PDFA functionaries. And nearly 40 per cent of PDFA members have gone in for automation. The association owns a high-tech processing unit located 50 km away from Ludhiana city. And it has launched its own milk brand, La Pure Milk, which is marketed in Ludhiana. "I went to Israel in 2006 and saw cowsheds being built there. Upon enquiry, I got to know that a model cow shed should have a height of 35 feet and width of 120 feet. Such a shed allows proper ventilation and reduces the temperature inside by 4-5 per cent," recalls Daljeet Singh Gill, president of PFDA. He also happens to be a member of the Punjab State Farmers' Commission's advisory committee. Association members learnt about feeding techniques in France and Sweden and about fodder quality in New Zealand. PFDA helps members import machines and provides training to farmers on running them. Veterinary help, too, is extended quickly. The association is in the process of fixing marketing requirements of its members."

Suffice to say that Punjab will accomplish the feats of several dairy farming countries like New Zealand, Australia, Denmark and others in terms of raising of milk animals, production standards and processing and show its fellow countrymen that nothing is impossible if there is a will to work hard and set their vision high. The conflict between manual operation and mechanization is a real one in a country like India where unemployment is supposed to be high about 13% of the population. But food production and processing require quality human resources and skilled workers and only training and skill development can make unemployed people fit for absorption by the industry. Unless such skill is generated shortage of human resources will always compel the industry for more and more mechanization.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com

THE "JUTE SACK" SCAM-JUTE MILLS ON THE DOCK

Jute industry, made up of about 66 mills, is located predominantly in the state of West Bengal and their main product, the jute sac is purchased by the GOI for packing food grains for storage and distribution. That quality of the sack has a critical bearing on its ability to protect the grain for long periods is well known and it is mandatory for the Jute Mills to supply as per the well-laid standards specified for its quality. However a serious fraud seems to be taking place through collusion between the government personnel entrusted with jute sac procurement and the suppliers causing almost Rs 9 billion loss annually to the exchequer. It is condemnable that these fraudsters perpetuating this scam have no social conscience about the wastage of precious food through supply of inferior sacs for lining their pockets. Here is a take on this episode.

"Meanwhile, the Punjab government has already written to the Union food ministry, requesting for the use of polythene/plastic bags for packing of food grains in the ongoing Rabi season and the upcoming Kharif season under its PUNGRAIN scheme. It is estimated that the mills are cheating the government to the tune of around Rs 72 crore per month by supplying 4,000 bales of inferior quality and used bags that are almost 65 gms lower than the standard weight of 665 gms. While the mills are quoting a price of a new B–Twill bag at Rs 37, they are only supplying used and inferior quality bags weighing 600 gms and priced at around Rs 33.36. In this way they are making an illegal income of Rs 3.64 per bag and Rs 1820 per bale. Almost 40 per cent of the annual industry production of 1.2 million tonnes of jute bags is purchased by the government under the Jute Packaging Materials Act of 1987".

The Jute Mills should be grateful to GOI for purchasing almost half their production of jute sacs at a profitable price and if FCI switches over from the jute sac to woven plastic sacs, there could be disaster waiting for the industry with most of them forced to down their shutters. In stead of being appreciative of this arrangement, it is reprehensible that the industry is trying to "bite the hand that feeds it." GOI is right in taking severe action against those indulging in this crime and no punishment will be too big for these fraudsters.

V.H.POTTY
http://vhpotty.blogspot.com/
http://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com