Date:19/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/19/stories/2005051903990600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Three sick dairies to be revived

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The Chittoor, Cuddapah and Rajahmundry dairies which are deep in the red will be revived immediately using funds and technology from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

This will benefit lakhs of farmers in Chittoor, Cuddapah and East Godavari districts. The NDDB will meet the investment needs for the revival, estimated at over Rs. 60 crores.

An understanding to this effect was reached between the State Government and the NDDB at a meeting presided over by the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on Wednesday as a follow-up of a five-year agreement signed eight months ago.

The Animal Husbandry Minister, G. Surya Rao, and S. Srinivas, State Director for the NDDB, told reporters later that Chittoor and Cuddapah dairy units were "almost dead" while Rajahmundry unit's daily production fell to 15,000 litres against its full capacity of 1.5 lakh litres. The NDDB will make available the latest technology and machinery for their revival in line with the recommendation of an expert committee.

As the first step, the milk procurement price offered to the farmer would be increased to Rs. 9 a litre, an increase of Rs 2 a litre.

Modernisation

Mr. Surya Rao also announced that a modernisation and strengthening programme would be taken up for the Andhra Pradesh Dairy Development Cooperative Federation to increase its annual income to Rs. 300 crores (Rs. 189 crores now) by increasing the daily milk production to 10 lakh litres (3.5 lakh litres now). Its Vijaya brand would be popularised all over the country.