Team Herald
PANJIM: Though the Goa government claims that introducing Surat District Cooperative Milk Producers Union (SUMUL) will be healthy competition to Goa Dairy, it appears that the State is on a mission to teach the hitherto sole milk co-operative sector a lesson.
From allegedly backstabbing the government over reducing the price of milk after availing Rs 8.5 crore under the ‘cattle feed project’ to showing losses rather than gains every year and exporting milk packets to neighbouring states at a higher rate by creating shortage in Goa; the Goa Dairy has upset the government.
Briefing the media on Friday, Agriculture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said that SUMUL is a wakeup call for the directors of the existing dairy in the State. “Goa Dairy will improve its functioning with SUMUL’s entry in four talukas (Sanguem, Quepem, Canacona and Sattari). It will generate healthy competition,” he said on the sidelines department’s selection for Commendation Award under total food grains category 2014-15.
He went on to add that government had funded Rs 8.5 crore to the Dairy under the Cattle Feed project and was assured that milk prices will be dropped, only to get a shock of Rs two hike per packet thereafter. “Government has provided all assistance required by Goa Dairy but got nothing in return, which was meant for the welfare of the people of Goa. SUMUL’s entry is a wakeup call for Goa Dairy directors,” Tawadkar said. The government has assured that SUMUL will sell milk packets at a standard rate unlike Goa Dairy.
The State government has allowed the Gujarat-based dairy co-operative union to set up large-scale dairy farms in the Amul pattern stating it will benefit and improve socio-economic conditions of the dairy farmers of Goa. BJP Goa vice president Dr Pramod Sawant had said that SUMUL will be directly under the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services.
The minister also applauded the increased orchid production in greenhouses and other cultivation in poly houses or green houses. Goa has a 105 poly houses covering an area of 18 ha while seven ha is covered under orchid and gerbera cultivation. “We can become orchid hub in future,” he stated.
Tawadkar also stated that Goa has been selected for the Commendation Award under total food grains category III of Krishi Karman awards for 2014-15 that consists of cash prize of Rs one crore and a citation.
