Herald: Goa is in the midst of several decisions where controversy has arisen. The latest is in the area of dairy. The government has authorized Surat District Co-Operative Milk Producer’s Union Limited (SUMUL) to establish the Amul pattern of dairy business in Goa. Amul is an extremely respected brand across India and its system of business is very respected. The government also says that it will establish large-scale dairy farms in Goa in the Amul pattern and they will enhance the productivity, profitability, and sustainability of animals, and more importantly, it will create self-employment and give farmers more hope. But the decision has also been criticized heavily by the opposition and others, who feel that this is a front to ensure that certain dairy farmers get benefits. What is also very important is that a very close relative of the former Chief Minister and Defence Minister has been dragged into the controversy. The opposition feels that this is being done especially to ensure that his dairy business gets his due share. Our panelists for this discussion are Durgadas Kamat, Congress spokesperson; Shivanand Bakre from Bicholim; and Pramod Sawan, Sanquelim MLA.
Herald: Durgadas, why this opposition? Many people feel that this is opposition for opposition’s sake.
Kamat: Just because we’re in the opposition doesn’t mean that we’ll oppose everything. There is an agreement between Goa Dairy and the Government of Goa and the national Dairy Corporation in 1982. In that agreement it was stated that no other dairy would enter the State. Secondly, if the government had the right intention to put the milk revolution in place, it should have supported our own Goa Dairy, which is not doing well but should have been supported. That has not been done. Suddenly, some private company comes up and sudden notifications are being issued. This raises serious questions and doubts among the public.
Herald: Shivanand, speaking from the farmer’s perspective, can you respond to what Durgadas has said. If a milk revolution had to be started, why couldn’t it be done with our own Goa Dairy?
Bakre: The answer to this question is with Goa Dairy itself. If they feel they should not have any other milk company, why do the farmers feel there should be other milk companies in Goa? Milk farmers feel that Goa Dairy has taken them for granted, hence, they have lost faith in it and want alternatives to be provided for them.
Herald: Pramod, can you respond to this? While everyone is talking about make in India, we should also get into the make in Goa concept. If Goa Dairy is going through a problem, one should sort it out. But what about this agreement that Durgadas is talking about?
Sawant: I don’t know what agreement Goa Dairy has with the farmers, but one point is clear, the notification which the government released on December 30, 2015, states that every milk farmer in Goa should get their deserved profit. The farmers have full support of the government, which aims to make a self-sufficient state as far as milk production is concerned. Even when the milk production is extra, the government exports the milk by paying 10 percent support pass, so I guess the government has supported Goa Dairy in every way.
Herald: Durgadas, if farmers are saying that they are getting far better benefits by having another dairy, where they will be able to sell milk and get better prices. Do we need to support the farmers’ interest or Goa Dairy’s interest?
Kamat: Goa Dairy comes under the cooperative department. It becomes semi-government. There is an assistant registrar who goes for every board meeting of Goa Dairy. This guy has to keep watch on the profit and loss and trading account of Goa Dairy. The assistant registrar is not a private person. He is from the cooperative society sector. If the government was really interested, why didn’t it call up the registrar and get feedback from him to improve Goa Dairy and give benefit to our farmers?
Herald: Forget which dairy is operating. At the end of the day, if you’re getting a particular dairy and it is benefitting the farmers, then the farmer will automatically go to where the benefits are. What you’re essentially saying is that this benefit to the farmers could have been done within the Goa Dairy pattern.
Kamat: Exactly.
Sawant: For your information, Goa is the only State whose milk production is under the cooperative sector. Dairies in other states are under the veterinary sector. At present, Goa imports milk from 18 different dairies. Today, no state has any control over milk. SUMUL has been in Goa for the last two years, and there are other companies that have been selling milk in Goa for years. If they are selling milk here and are ready to form self help groups, buy milk from the local farmers, give them veterinary services, do their marketing in Goa, the Goa government is not at all at loss. On the contrary, it will benefit the farmers. I don’t know what is the problem with the opposition. Today, I am talking for the betterment of the farmers. I’m not on Goa Dairy’s side. I just want the milk production in Goa to be successful. I want today’s generation to get into this milk business.
Herald: Shivanand, ultimately, you as a farmer need to benefit. You are supporting SUMUL because you are convinced that the Goa Dairy support system has not worked for you. Isn’t it a matter of shame that the government has not been able to keep the farmers happy? As a farmer, do you at least admit that Goa Dairy has not benefitted the farmers? Goa Dairy farmers have come to the conclusion that the Goa Dairy system has failed for them. What the government has essentially done is allowed a bad system to perpetrate. Rather than repairing the system, they are getting an outside system to come in and do the repair job. Undoubtedly farmer will benefit. But you are doing it at what cost?
Bakre: Goa Dairy gives figures on daily basis. The amount of milk they collect from farmers – these figures are never disclosed. They still get milk tankers from outside, and when their sale increases, they sell the milk from the tankers. They say the Goa government is supporting fully by giving subsidies and all, but still the milk production is low. This again Goa Dairy only has to answer. Goan milk farmers are obliged to Goa Dairy because there is no other alternative for them. Goa Dairy controls the milk production. Three years back, Parrikar had told Goa Dairy to survey their cattle in all aspects and give the results to the government, and if you go in loss, the government promised to compensate for it. It’s been four years now, but the results have still not come to the government.
Herald: What are you fears that of SUMUL coming in? If a good professional dairy comes in, what are your fears?
Kamat: You remember in 1997 – 1998, international soft drink companies ventured into Goan markets by supplying drinks at Rs 5 per bottle. The local soft drinks were around Rs 5. Within two years, the local soft drinks vanished. Our own Union Minister Shripad Naik’s brother’s company vanished. SUMUL will come in and tell farmers that it will give a higher support price than what Goa Dairy is giving. See what is the rate of milk in Surat. It’s very small. In some years, SUMUL says it cannot sustain with such low prices so it will get milk from Surat. What will happen to the farmers?
Herald: Suppose the farmer gets more money for his milk. Suppose the milk is sold at a cost which is lesser than Goa Dairy. Isn’t that a win-win situation?
Kamat: Is the government ready to take the risk to protect the farmers?
Sawant: Let me say that there are already 18 different milk companies who sell their milk in Goa. Goa Dairy sells along with them.
Herald: Shivanand, as a farmer, how are you so confident that an outside agency is going to be more beneficial to you than what you are currently getting? What are your expectations from SUMUL? Why are you confident you demands will be fulfilled?
Bakre: I feel Sumul will do well because I have completely lost my trust in Goa Dairy. I have been doing my milk business for 14 years. The hopes that I had on Goa Dairy were a waste. It has failed in every aspect. SUMUL has very good cattle feed, so I’m sure they will do well. Let’s move on to SUMUL. Let’s try it out.
Herald: Durgadas, if the farmers are happy with SUMUL, why are you not?
Kamat: Whichever farmer wants it, let them take it, but not at the cost of finishing our own dairy. Around 1,700 centres are supplying Goa Dairy milk. It’s not that I’m vouching for Goa Dairy. There is rampant corruption there. It has to be checked. For that, the government is responsible.
Herald: Why don’t both sides come halfway? It is important to see that farmers get a better deal. Why doesn’t the government realise that while giving the farmers a better deal, it can have a midway path where it encourages competition, but not at the cost of killing our own dairy. Why can’t the two coexist?
Sawant: The government is doing this solely in the interest of Goans so that milk production increases in the State with better milk quality.
Kamat: The government signed the death warrant of the coconut tree. Similarly, by bringing in SUMUL, it has signed the warrant of Goa Dairy.
Herald: At the end of the day, competition always helps. Farmers need to benefit, but not at the cost of ensuring that our indigenous corporations, which are meant to ensure that farmers get employment and people get milk at a low price, stop functioning. We cannot kill a corporation bring another one. There needs to be a midway path, where farmers get benefits and competition is there, and out homegrown competition does not die.
