Provide guidance to dairy sector players, Mudassir appeals to IDA

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2009-02-10
PANAJI - The Secretary for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Dr D M Mudassir acknowledged that the increase in milk production in Goa, over the years is not even one-tenth of that at the national level and appealed to the Indian Dairy Association (IDA), to guide the players in the state dairy sector, including government officials in improving this situation.
“A number of schemes are run by the government for the benefit of the Goan milk producers,” he added, observing, “However, something is wrong along the way, during their implementation”
Addressing the delegates as well as Goan farmers at the ongoing 37th Dairy Industry Conference, at Kala Academy Complex on February 9, during a session on dairy development in Goa, Dr Mudassir said that the problems of Goa as regards animal husbandry, in general and dairy, in particular are similar to those faced by rest of the country. “However, these problems are a little more acute,” he added.
Dr Mudassir maintained that the production of milk in Goa takes care of only half of the state’s need, while rest of the milk requirement of Goan consumers is fulfilled by milk imported from the neighbouring states. “Currently, the budget for the department of animal husbandry and veterinary services is Rs 21 crore, however, it needs to be increased,” he opined.
Speaking further, Dr Mudassir said that the dairy sector in Goa needs to look at various aspects including maintaining the health and hygiene of cattle and further, improvement in their quality.
Finally, he informed that a number of people from countries like Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark are coming down to Goa as tourists, and there is a general view that Goa should be the ‘Chocolate Capital’ of the country.
The chairman of the Goa Milk Union (Goa Dairy), Mr Madhav Sahakari, speaking on the topic ‘Goa Milk Union, Organisation and Approach’ during the session, said that though the GMU is a profit-making body, its milk procurement is reducing, and at present is 20 lakh litres per year.
“A survey has pointed out at the improper execution of all the government schemes linked to the dairy sector, due to faults at every level of implementation; the levels including farmers, milk societies, financing bodies and the department of animal husbandry and veterinary,” he informed, noting, “If co-ordinated efforts and proper co-operation had taken place in this sector, such a situation would not have arisen.”
Stating that the government is providing support price to the local milk producers at the rate of Rs 1.80 per litre, Mr Sahakari suggested that the same could be increased to Rs 3 per litre, instead of the subsidies in the dairy sector, so that the money directly goes into the hands of the milk producers.
“The GMU share the margin money, guarantee the financial institutions as regards repayment of loans by the milk producers, handle insurance aspects, and so on,” he maintained, further noting that the Union takes care of 65 to 70 per cent needs of milk in Goa. “We don’t want to monopolise the milk market in Goa, and as such co-operative unions from the neighbouring states are also operating in the local milk market,” he added.
It was also informed that there exists 300-odd milk producers in Goa, who are sharing around 50 per cent of the total milk supplied to the Union for more than 30 years, Mr Sahakari mentioned, pointing out that the Union desires to attract younger generation in the state milk sector.
As for meeting the milk requirement of the state, Mr Sahakari said, there is a need to discipline the financial irregularities in the sector.
The director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Dr H Faleiro, in his speech said that in Goa, there exists a total of 88,541 cattle, and efforts are on to increase cross breeding as well as milk production. “During the Portuguese regime in the region, a number of cattle of Red Sindhi breed were brought to Goa from Pakistan and the breed is still maintained,” he informed.
Mr Arun Narke chaired the session. The IDA president, Mr N R Bhasin was also present on the occasion.