Date:07/08/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/08/07/stories/2007080767000300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Godavari Dairy to be revived

Correspondent

The project involves three agencies

The estimated cost is Rs. 7 cr.
DRDA to supply human resource through SHGs

Kakinada: The Godavari Dairy at Rajahmundry, a sick unit, is being revived at a cost of Rs.7 crores involving three agencies -- AP Dairy Development Cooperation Federation Limited (APDDCFL), DRDA and the Animal husbandry department, with woman self-help groups’ active participation, according to Ch Kumara Swamy, Project Director of the District Rural Development Agency. Explaining the salient features of the revival scheme here on Monday, he said the APDDCFL would provide the funds for the plants revival and also for starting 14 new bulk milk cooling units (BMCU) and around 200 village milk collection centres (VMC). The Animal Husbandry Department provides 4000 milch cattle on 50 per cent subsidy to beneficiaries. The DRDA, on its part, would supply the human resource, through woman self-help groups, required for maintenance of the bulk milk cooling units and the village milk collection centres. It also imparts the necessary training to SHG members in milk collection and maintenance of the centres. The Dairy Federation would pay Rs.1.30 per litre to the SHG members towards their commission and the modalities are being worked out.

The 14 bulk milk cooling units would be set up in the dairy operation area covering nine Assembly constituencies from Rajahmundry to Mummidivaram.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said each cooling unit would cost Rs.25 lakhs and the Village milk collection centre Rs.1.40 lakhs and on an average each cooling unit would be linked to 20 village collection centres. The members of the woman self help groups, he said, would be given basic training for a week here and later deputed to either Nizamabad or Mahabubnagar for another week’s training where the milk collection centres were functioning effectively. Under the revival plan, he said, the animal husbandry department would supply 4,000 milch cattle to the beneficiaries who are linked to the dairy. The SHG women would be supplied with the modern kits including electronic testers and also 40-litre capacity milk cans.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said the revival plan was to serve two-fold purpose of reviving the dairy and providing gainful employment to women involving the SHG members, both in supplying milk and manning the collection centres. He said the Dairy would be revived at any cost by September-end.