Chandigarh, Mar 7 (UNI) With a view to further improve the quality of raw milk, it was decided to provide bulk milk coolers to the progressive dairy farmers associated with Verka.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa held at Verka Head Office here on Sunday.

On the occasion, the Minister said these bulk milk coolers (BMC) would be provided initially to 100 progressive dairy farmers on subsidy, who are pouring more than 500 kg milk on daily basis to Verka. He also assured that the Department of Cooperation is committed to provide such facilities to milk producers of the State in future also.

Notably, in order to maintain the quality of raw milk, during the last 20 years about 1200 BMCs of different capacities, under various schemes, have been provided to the registered milk cooperative societies affiliated to the Verka Milk Plants operating under Milkfed in Punjab.

With the provision of these BMC to the registered milk societies for instant cooling of milk, there has been a great improvement in the quality of milk which in turn has helped in improving the quality of products and increase in sales. These BMCs are usually provided on subsidy to the milk societies.

Apart from the Milk Producers Cooperative Societies, about 2300 progressive dairy farmers are directly supplying milk to different Verka milk plants in Punjab. Some of them had to invest in BMCs themselves but most of the farmers have not been able to avail this facility because of heavy investment involved.

During the meeting, Punjab Cooperative Societies Registrar Vikas Garg advised the officers of various milk plants that in order to run the milk plant operations more efficiently, any difficulty encountered by them should be brought to his notice for its immediate and timely redressal.

Punjab Milkfed Managing Director Kamaldeep Singh Sangha informed that progressive dairy farmers who are interested in getting benefit under the scheme can contact the General Manager or Manager Milk Procurement of the concerned Verka Milk Plant.

He also said during the recent crisis posed by Covid-19, all employees of Milkfed have worked tirelessly to serve the milk producers for better future of dairy industry of the state.

UNI DB SY 1752