CM bats for one time settlement scheme for dairy farmers of Milkfed

SAS Nagar (Mohali), July 25, 2014: In a bid to relieve the Dairy farmers of Milkfed from the burden of debt on one hand and encourage them to usher in ‘white revolution’ by enhancing the milk production on the other, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Milkfed to explore ways and means for introducing One Time Settlement (OTS) scheme for them.

Addressing a mammoth gathering of dairy farmers from 1024 milk societies affiliated to Milk Union Ropar and Milk Plant Mohali during a function for disbursement of Rs.7.85 crore as bonus and dividend out of the earnings of Milk Plant, Mohali for the years 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 here today, the Chief Minister asked the Milkfed to work out the modalities for immediately putting the mechanism of OTS in place to the Dairy farmers on the same pattern as introduced earlier in the Industrial sector by the state government.

Underscoring the need of diversification of agriculture due to squeezed margins of profitability from the traditional farming, the Chief Minister called upon the farmers to switch over from the wheat/ paddy rotation to high value added crops and allied farming especially the Dairy as it was far more remunerative.  He said that it was a high time to adopt dairy and other allied farming professions because the agriculture has already reached a point of saturation and was unable to make both ends of the farmers meet in view of high cost of agriculture inputs and diminishing returns due to stagnated MSP.

Lauding the contribution of Milkfed and Milk Plant Mohali for the economic development of milk producers, the Chief Minister said that with the remunerative price being given by Milkfed to the milk producers the dairying had now become a profitable venture.  He stressed on producing the clean milk at village level so that the finished products of excellent quality may be manufactured and maximum amount realized for serving the farmers. Mr. Badal also asked the Milkfed authorities to work out a strategy of marketing Verka products in national and international market adding the Chief Minister said that he would soon take up the issue with the Union Ministries of Civil Aviation and Railways to allow the sale of premium Verka products at all the Airports and Railway Stations.  

Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated automatic Dairy plant installed at a cost of Rs 40 crore which would now enhance the existing handling capacity of Milk Plant Mohali from two lakh liters per day to five lakh liters milk per day.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Milkfed and Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Gurbachan Singh Babehali said  that Milkfed had made commendable progress in the last few years as a result of which now Verka had become a household name and a popular not only in India but abroad also. 

Addressing the gathering Managing Director Milkfed Alaknanda Dyaal apprised the Chief Minister that the currently more than 7250 Milk producers, cooperative societies were attached with Milkfed. In the year 2013-14 the business turnover of Milkfed was Rs 2142 crore and now it was expected cross the target business turnover of Rs 2500 crore during current fiscal. She further said that on the basis of export performance the Government of India (GoI) has awarded the rank of star export house to Milkfed.  

In his welcome address, Chairman of Milk Plant, Mohali Parminder Singh Chalaki said that Milk Plant Mohali was presently paying highest rate of milk to the producers as a result of which 3% more milk was being procured in comparison to last years.  Similarly, about 3,75,000 liters of milk was being supplied to the cities daily with an improvement of 7% over last year.  Chalaki informed that 160 bulk Milk coolers have been installed in the societies of Milk plant Mohali and 15 more were in pipeline thereby rendering the entire Milk procurement system in Mohali plant totally can less/ tempo less.

Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Financial Commissioner Cooperation SK Sandhu.