International InternationalMultidisciplinary Multidisciplinary e-Journal e – Journal / Bharatbhai U Patel ISSN (42-45) 2277 - 4262

Banas Dairy –Achievements and Challenges Bharatbhai U Patel Research Scholar, Singhania University,Pacheri Bari, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, .

Paper Received on: 15/12/2012 Paper Reviewed on: 19 /12/2012 Paper Accepted on: 22/12/2012

Introduction If we look at the beginning and historical background of the Banas dairy, in the year 1966 under the leadership of Late Shri Galbabhai Nanjibhai Patel, in the backward area like Banaskantha, under the guidance of the then chairman of the Dudhsagar dairy Late Shri Mansinhbhai Patel the dairy industry started on cooperative basis. In the beginning, eight cooperative milk societies were formed in and Vadgam talukas and started collecting milk and sending it to Dudhsagar dairy from 10-03-1966. By the year 1969, seventy five milk societies were functional and on the auspicious day of 31st January, 1969, the Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited (BanasDairy) was formally established under the cooperative societies act and after that the Banas dairy started working independently which could be considered as an “historic and remarkable” event. Main Objectives of Banas Dairy

1. To form cooperative societies at rural level. 2. To create permanent market of milk and provide compensative milk prices according to the quality of the milk to farmers. 3. To make farmers exploitation free from the exploitation of private merchants and dairies. 4. To provide animal husbandry expansion services and education by scientific method. 5. To make animal husbandry occupation economic, supportive and collaborative to agriculture so that rural poor can be self-sufficient. Achievements of Banas Dairy

1. Mobile Veterinary Clinics:

Much care should be given to the health, balanced and nutritious food, treatment and fitness of animals and animal rising of milk animals for animal breeding. For this purpose, well-equipped mobile clinics with experienced veterinary doctors and all the medical equipments were started so that the farmers can get treatment for their sick animals at home. Arrangements have been made for immediate treatment of sick animals by paying special visits. Every year average 1,00,000

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2. Animal Breeding:

Artificial insemination services are provided to increase per animal production of milk. Trainings have been provided, for this work, also to the employees of the milk societies so that they can provide artificial insemination services at the village level. On average, about 30,000 per year artificial inseminations are performed. As a result, animal breed has improved. About 15,000 hybrid cows also can be produced.

3. Balanced Animal Food:

Animal health plays important role in the increase of milk production. Green hay and balanced animal food should be available so that animals can get enough nutrient elements in the food. For this purpose the Banas dairy has set-up its own Banas Cattle Feed Factory where everyday 100 M.T. balanced animal food is being produced and supplied to milk producers at their home through milk societies at reasonable price at “no profit no loss” and this cattle feed has proved very important in increasing the production and quality of milk.

4. Green Fodder:

Green fodder is also needed in the animal food with animal feed. Green fodder seeds are provided to milk producers so that good quality green fodder could be fed to animals.

5. Milk Producers’ Study Tour:

Study tours are organized for milk producer men and women to the places like Banas dairy, cattle feed plant, fodder farm and milk testing laboratory and they are provided on the spot information. They are explained the stage-wise process of conversion of the milk they sent to dairy and information is provided about the tri-level structure of the cooperative based dairy industry and by giving information and creating awareness on the subjects of loyalty of members, importance of ideal leadership, democratic management and administration and women’s contribution in dairy animal husbandry in this structure, intensive efforts are being made to make their sense of loyalty and trust stronger towards milk societies.

6. Supporting Schemes: (1) Group insurance of members (2) Assistance for purchase of chaff cutters (3) Permanent manger assistance scheme for clean manger (4) 50% assistance through rural development agency for construction of milk house (5) Subsidy for fodder farms set-up (6) 50% assistance for purchase of milk tester (7) Kharvasa Movas vaccination (8) Galsudha vaccination (9) Tribal area sub scheme assistance

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7. Economic Viability:

It could be said for sure that along with the increase in production and collection of milk, the Banas dairy has achieved economic viability also. Dairy’s paid-up capital is about Rs 87 lacs, reserve and other funds are about Rs 5.64 crores and assets are about Rs 16 crores. This way Banas dairy has achieved financial viability, same way 86,755 thousand kilogram milk was collected during the year 2007-08 through about 791 milk societies organized with the union. In addition, by producing 858 MT of Sagar Ghee, 1038 MT of Skim Milk Powder, 2596 MT of Butter and 5481 MT of Amulya Powder, the dairy has made rapid progress. Milk producers are paid better and better prices every year. With the expansion of the cattle feed plant, 100 MT Banas Feed is produced per day. This feed has proved more nutritious and of better quality than any other cattle feed available in the market and its use by the milk producers is progressively increasing.

8. Education and Training Center:

Shri Galbabhai Dairy Training Center has been established at the cost of Rs 27 lacs and training programmes have been started there from 8-10-1984. This training center is managed by National dairy Development Board. In this training center, training is provided to the employees of the milk societies working at the rural level on artificial insemination and scientific methods of primary treatment to animals and its practical use. Moreover, training is provided to the secretaries on administration, accounting and working of the society. Besides Banaskantha district, employees of milk societies form other districts of the state also come to the training center for training.

9. Road to the Future Development:

(1) Out of 1368 villages of the district about 900 villages have formed milk societies and united them with the dairy. But, the dairy’s target is to reach 100% villages and the milk reaches to the dairy from every village and all the schemes of the dairy reach to the last village of the district and the last person of every village get these benefits at home is the aim of the dairy.

(2) Chilling centers are now established at five places. Efforts are on to bring the milk to the dairy from the distant areas by setting up more chilling centers.

(3) Dairy plant and its capacity to handle milk are insufficient and there is a plan for expansion to increase the capacity to about 7 lacs liters.

(4) There are possibilities to still improve the quality of the milk. A scheme is under consideration to collect milk in tankers by setting up mini chilling centers at some milk centers. This scheme has been started in 10 villages of the district on experimental basis and it has been planned to start this scheme on all the routes of the Banaskantha district within about a year.

(5) Fat test is being done by milko tester machines now in approximately 400 milk societies. But the dairy’s target is to cover all the societies by the milko tester services. In addition to this, computerized milk collection machines are in operation in five societies and in this matter the response of the milk societies’ members is found very positive and it is under consideration to provide these machines to more societies in the future.

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(6) Dairy’s research and development department is continuously researching on producing new milk products. Research is on to make instant breakfast food from milk powder and it is motto of the dairy to see that the member farmers get more benefits of value growth from these researches.

Challenges

(1) Women membership in milk societies is currently 15% only. This is considered very low. Systematic efforts are needed by the district milk union and leadership in the direction of women’s wisely active participation in general meetings and elections of milk societies and also can get elected in the managing committee and take interest in the management of the societies.

(2) Rainfall is irregular in Banaskantha district. Irrigation facilities are inadequate. Results of science and technology could not be delivered to the people because of superstition and conservatism.

(3) There are problems of transportation and milk spoiling because of long distance in tribal and hilly areas.

(4) At the rural level there are difficulties of absence of faithful leadership and getting necessary proper employees for administration of the societies.

(5) In Banas dairy also, the problem of acquiring and retaining powerful administrative skilled efficient officers could be considered as an obstacle in the development of the dairy.

(6) Due to insignificant education in women, even though their common sense being better, they don’t have enough trust in science and technology and as a result services like animal breeding and artificial insemination are not readily accepted.

(7) The district doesn’t have big cities and civilian areas hence local market of milk is not available.

Conclusion

Even though having challenges before the Banas dairy, due to the establishment of the Banas dairy, farmers are prospering in economic, social and education fields. The farmers have feelings of independence, freedom and democracy. Milk occupation has become lifeline for the Banaskantha district. Not only that, but for further development, economic benefits and social upliftment, there is no other option left except cooperation. Cooperative dairy industry has brought awareness in the farmers.

References:

Patel S J.1979 Our Dairy Industy MSU.Baroda.

Banas Dairy Annual Report

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