Dairy Development Training

By Rabindra nath Nayak

What’s a Dairy cooperative ?

Dairy farmers form village-level cooperative society and elect its members and chairperson. The societies then join to form district-level unions. Chairpersons of these unions form the board of directors of the federation at the state level

Each dairy cooperative society has a collection centre at the village that procures milk from small milk producers. They are paid depending on the fat content of the milk, which is measured by an automatic machine

The procured milk goes to the district-level union, which has a processing unit. It is here that the milk is pasteurised before being sold or used to produce dairy products. The union decides how it wants to sell the milk, depending on its capacity

State-level federation markets the milk and dairy products under its own brand name

The federation and the unions provide facilities like veterinarian service and cheap cattle feed to the farmer. At the end of the year, the federation shares its profits with the dairy farmer as per his or her contribution

Difference Between Dairy Co-operative and Milk Producer Company

DAIRY COOPERATIVE It is governed by the state’s

cooperative Act. The state government, therefore, has a decisive role in its administration

Has a three-tier structure that extends from the village level to the state level

Anyone with one cattle can be a member of the cooperative and enjoy its benefits

There is no provision to expel inactive members

No provision for audit and experts on board

MILK PRODUCER COMPANY Legally, it is under the Companies

Act. It has autonomy to decide on all matters

Single-tier arrangement where dairy farmers are direct members of the producer company

Only dairy farmers who regularly contribute milk can hold shares and enjoy patronage

It has provisions to remove inactive members

Explicit provision for audit and experts on board

Cattle feed decides milk price

• Milk is an essential commodity. But no one decides its price. Depending on the company and quality, one can get a litre of milk for Rs.30 to Rs.60. Companies also revise the prices at their whims. In the past three years, milk prices have increased six times. The hike is between Rs.8 and Rs.10 in all segments—full cream, toned milk and double toned milk. Analysts say much of this rise is due to cattle feed and fodder that has become dearer in recent years. Today cattle feed accounts for 60-70 per cent of the input cost of the milk.

Commercial Dairy Farming• Commercial dairy farming has good potential for employment generation

both in rural and peri-urban areas besides being a source of liquidity and insurance against crop failure. In other words, dairy provides employment throughout the year. Even more profits can be earned through dairying, depending upon the breeds of animal, managerial skills and marketing. Dairy farming can also be taken up as a main occupation around big urban centres, wherein the demand for milk is high.

• Modern and well established scientific principles, practices and skills should be used to obtain maximum economic benefits from dairy farming

• Topics to be covered• • Economic parameter and project proposal development of commercial

dairy farm for sustainability• • Fodder production, preservation and utilization of farm waste• • Animal Health, housing & shelter management of dairy animals• • Quality milk production & Value addition in milk for enhancement of

farm income• • Interaction with dairy equipment industries, commercial dairy farmers

and financial institution• Fees for Training• Fee of `9,000 per participants will be charged which includes boarding and

lodging facilities also. Participants have to bring Demand Draft in favour of Society for Innovation & Entrepreneurship in Dairying, payable at Karnal.

• Eligibility & Selection• The training is open for Dairy farmers/entrepreneurs, officials from animal

husbandry & dairying departments, educated rural and urban youths and farmers. There are 20-25 seats for this training.

• Accommodation• Boarding and Lodging facilities will be provided at Scientist home of NDRI

or NBAGR, Karnal.• Travel• Karnal is located on NH-1, equidistant (~125 Km) from New Delhi and

Chandigarh. City is well connected by road and train. Buses for Karnal can be availed from ISBT Bus stand (Kashmiri Gate), New Delhi.

• Reference:• http://

www.ndri.res.in/ndri/Design/documents/event_cdf_18march2014.pdf