PONDA
The Goa State Cooperative Milk Producers Union (Goa Dairy), established in 1984, will replace its inefficient machinery setup which is three decades old, by utilising the fund of Rs 16.41 crore provided by the central government.
The central government recently sanctioned Rs 16.41 crore to Goa Dairy under the National Programme for Dairy Development project. This fund is being given for development of existing projects of the dairies. The first installment of Rs 7.91 crore has been credited by the Centre in Goa Dairy's account.
Expressing happiness, Managing Director of Goa Dairy Dr Navasu Sawant said it was possible only because of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. "I am thankful to the chief minister for helping us for revamping the Goa Dairy by providing this aid," he said.
The Animal Husbandry department played a major role to make available this scheme of the Central government to Goa Dairy.
Asked how the funds given by Central government will be utilized, Dr Sawant said: "First of all we have to replace the machineries installed three decades ago. Replacing homogenizer will increase the quality of milk. We will also provide bulk milk coolers to milk societies."
"It is not only Goa Dairy's milk processing plant will get revamped with this fund, but we will also help the milk societies. We will provide them computers and also bulk milk coolers," Sawant said.
Milk tankers, bulk milk coolers for societies, steel cans for farmers, computers for societies, automatic milk collection units, refrigerator van, mobile laboratory and other equipments will be purchased by utilizing this fund.
"We will float e-tender to purchase these items and the process has been started. We have to utilize this fund by March 31, 2018," Sawant said.
Dr Sawant is optimistic of providing quality of products from Goa Dairy after the machineries are replaced. "No doubt yet present we are giving good quality products to people. But after installing new machineries, it will add more quality," he added.
