Team Herald
PORVORIM: Cooperation Minister Mahadev Naik on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that the government is open to allowing Gujarat-based SUMUL to expand activities in the State.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar also said that the state has received a representation from farmers seeking to extend SUMUL operations beyond the three talukas in which they are presently operating.
Naik said, “If there is a proposal (from SUMUL) we don’t mind giving them opportunity to expand their operations in all the talukas of Goa.”
Independent MLA Naresh Sawal who had raised the issue during the Question Hour had alleged that SUMUL was collecting milk from Goa and transporting it to Gujarat and benefiting from the support price from the Goa government. He went on to say, “We will not sit quiet” if their (SUMUL) operation is allowed across the State.”
To this, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar intervened, saying, “Support price is provided to the dairy farmers and not to SUMUL.” He said, “SUMUL has been allowed to operate in a few talukas, but seeing their functioning, farmers from other areas have sought that they be allowed to sell milk to SUMUL.
It is an ideal situation, if competition between two dairies (SUMUL and Goa Dairy) helps farmers,” the chief minister said.
SUMUL, which began operations in Goa in February this year, is operating in Sanguem, Quepem, Canacona and Sattari talukas, while its rival Goa Dairy has a pan-Goa presence.
Responding to Sawal’s fears, Naik said, “SUMUL has enrolled 350 farmers, and it pays 0.15 percent cess on milk to the State. There are 4700 dairy farmers in the State and the State collects Rs 1.85 crore in the form of cess on milk.”
Naik informed the House that SUMUL will be asked to comply with all the necessary formalities which are mandatory to complete within three months once they start operations as per the Cooperation Act.
