Team Herald
MARGAO: Dairy farmers from Raia and Curtorim have objected to SUMUL’s entry in Goa, while the Zilla Panchayat has unanimously resolved to support the new dairy cooperative.
The Sateri Milk Cooperative from Santemol, Raia, has criticised the Cooperation Minister for not coming clean on the scams and frauds regarding Goa Dairy and claim that the government has its own people as directors of Goa’s dairy cooperative.
While the farmers have flatly rejected the entry of SUMUL, the Zilla Panchayat has unanimously resolved to support SUMUL to end the alleged scams and carelessness of the
Goa Dairy.
At a briefing on Friday, farmers advised the government to clear the mess at Goa Dairy and to stop interfering with the board.
“The Cooperation Minister has to comment on the issue and stop burning the house to kill the rats. The government has to stop all subsidies and increase support price, which will improve production,” said a board member of Goa Dairy.
A farmer also alleged that there was corruption in the Goa Dairy ice-cream plant. He urged the government to inquire into the scams and scandals and remove defaulters, which would straighten things up. He added that once SUMUL entered Goa, it would gain control, gain and monopoly and trouble farmers.
Meanwhile, Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco stated, “Goa Dairy presently imports over 40,000 litres of milk from other states and produces around 60,000 litres. To some extent, Goa Dairy has helped the farmers of Goa even if there are irregularities in the fodder given to them. It has stayed with the farmers,” Reginaldo said.
