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FEARS OF GOA DAIRY
* Goa Dairy will collapse if the government allows 'Sumul' to collect milk from local farmers and distribute it, warns Goa Dairy MD Dr Navasu Sawant
* About 30,000 families will be affected by the government’s decision
* There are about 176 milk societies and 19,000 families providing milk to Goa Dairy
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WHO WILL BENEFIT?
There will be stiff competition between Goa Dairy and Sumul for the procurement of milk and local farmers will benefit from higher prices
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PONDA: The Goa Dairy has been in a sour mood over the government's permission to Surat District Milk Federation (Sumul) to set up its unit in the State.
Fearing that another dairy would jeopardise the business of Goa Dairy and the livelihood of 30,000 families in the State, Goa Dairy has appealed to the State government to cancel its permission to another milk producer.
Expressing concern over its survival in the market if the State government permits Sumul to set up its unit in State, Goa State Co-operative Milk Producers Union Ltd (Goa Dairy) has warned that this could have devastating consequences for Goa Dairy.
According to sources, the BJP government has reportedly given permission to ‘Sumul’ to collect milk from local farmers and distribute the milk in Goa.
“If the government stick to this decision, Goa Dairy will collapse,” warns Goa Dairy Managing Director Dr Navasu Sawant, while speaking to The Goan.
“About 30,000 families will be affected by the government’s decision. There are about 176 milk societies and 19,000 families provide milk to us. Our business will be affected, if government does not pay heed to our request,” Sawant said.
According to Sawant, Goa Dairy has submitted memorandum to the chief minister, co-operation minister and animal husbandry minister expressing their concerns and requesting the government to cancel the permission to another milk producer.
“There are more than 11,000 families who are indirectly earning a living on Goa Dairy. They will be affected by the government’s decision. Besides, 300 staff of Goa Dairy will lose their jobs, if it collapses on account of another milk producer,” Sawant said.
While Goa Dairy fears a grim situation if Sumul enters the state, sources from the milk industry informed The Goan that farmers could be among the biggest beneficiaries in the process.
“There will be stiff competition between Goa Dairy and Sumul for the procurement of milk and local farmers will benefit from higher prices. If Sumul offers a higher price to local dairy farmers, Goa Dairy would also be compelled to offer a same or better rate. In this case, farmers will be the beneficiaries,” the source said.
“Goa Dairy also procures milk from Karnataka and Maharashtra. Besides, it has also successfully launched its ice cream products and requires considerable quantities of milk for all its products. Hence, it may find itself in trouble in efforts to procure milk if another ‘dairy’ sets up in Goa,” the source added.
