PONDA
Goa Dairy has begun to feel the heat of competition from Surat District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd (SUMUL) and results over the past six months have not gone in favour of Goa Dairy. About 100 farmers from Sattari, Sanguem, Quepem and Cancona talukas have distanced themselves from Goa Dairy and have tied up with SUMUL. As an immediate impact, Goa Dairy s local procurement has dropped by a significant 3,500 ltrs per day. There are increasing fears within Goa Dairy that this number could surge if SUMUL is given permission to do business in other talukas of the State. “SUMUL s initial collection centres at Vante and Vellus in Sattari taluka during the first quarter of this year had impacted Goa Dairy as 10 farmers had already started supplying milk to the new entrant. By March, Goa Dairy had admitted losing 700 litres of milk from Sattari,” a source told The Goan. Goa Dairy Managing Director Dr Navasu Sawant had earlier said that the State s government s decision to allow entry to SUMUL would lead to the collapse of Goa Dairy. “Around 30,000 families will be affected by the government s decision. There are around 176 milk societies and 19,000 families provide milk to Goa Dairy every day,” said Dr Sawant. Speaking to The Goan on Monday, Dr Sawant on Monday told this correspondent that about 100 dairy farmers have stopped supplying milk to Goa Dairy. “Due to their absence, our local procurement has reduced by 3500 litre. But in order to maintain our supplies, we have increased our procurement from neighbouring states. At present, Goa Dairy procures about 65-70,000 litres of milk per day from local farmers and 20,000 litres from neighbouring states,” added Dr Sawant. “A period from August to March is a flush season for milk production, while April to July is considered a lean season . At present, we are in the lean season and hence, we have to get more milk from neighbouring states.” Dr Sawant is, however, unfazed by the drop in dairy farmers and local milk procurement. “We have full faith in our farmers that they will always support us. Even those attracted to SUMUL will return to us,” said Dr Sawant, adding that strategies have already been planned to keep their business intact. Supporting his views, Vijay Patil, chairman of Shee Ram Prasad Sahakari Dudh Sanstha from Khadki-Sattari, said one of two members who had left Goa Dairy has already returned to Goa Dairy. “The new dairy farmers have no idea about the actual benefits of Goa Dairy and SUMUL, hence they have been attracted to SUMUL,” he said. According to sources SUMUL pays Rs 1.65 more per litre of milk as compared to Goa Dairy, but the cheaper cattle feed offered by Goa Dairy are also being considered by the seasoned dairy farmers.
