Odisha urged to boost dairy cooperatives

The Odisha Government has been advised to chalk out a time-bound action plan to revive the dairy sector, which has slowed down though there is huge potential in the State. While dairy sector growth at all India level is moving at a faster rate, its growth in Odisha has slowed down due to poor marketing and lower animal productivity. At the national level, dairy sector growth has been registered at 12.6 per cent, while in Odisha it is 3.7 per cent. The value output from dairy sector was about Rs 3,925 crore in 2013-14, which rose to Rs 4,069 crore in 2015-16. Pointing out the lacunae, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) advised the State Government to strengthen the marketing and management system of Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (OMFED). The NDDB is the premier institution of the country, which strengthens farmer cooperatives in dairy sector and supports national policies favourable for growth of the sector. NDDB Chairman Dilip Rath has brought it to the notice of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urging for corrective steps to develop the dairy sector. Rath has said that with about 43 lakh marginal and small farmers collectively owning more than 85 per cent of the bovines in the State, dairying can become a sustainable source of income, if the farmers are linked with the organised milk processing sector through farmer centric organisations like dairy cooperatives. He advised that these could be supplemented with improving animal productivity through organised breeding, scientific feeding and healthcare measures. Rath has pointed out that there is total liquid milk demand of about 17 lakh liters per day in the State.

However, the OMFED has only 24 per cent share in the total liquid milk demand in the State during 2017-18. The NDDB has pointed out that during 2017-18, the State had about 3,900 functional dairy cooperative societies which collectively procured about 5.10 lakh kg of milk per day, which declined to 4.19 lakh liters during December last. Despite having access to huge and growing urban market within the State and in proximity, the liquid milk sale has only been 4.10 lakh liters per day in 2017-18. Considering the large and growing milk market size of the State, there is huge scope for OMFED to increase its sale and this can be achieved by putting a strong marketing team and qualified and trained professionals for the job. The NDDB chief pointed out that some of the major factors contributing to the current status of dairy cooperative in Odisha have been absence of a fulltime CEO, poor governance, lack of qualified, trained and professional manpower and lack of autonomy in business decisions. Sources said Rath has offered NDDB support to the dairy cooperatives in Odisha as he belongs to the State and it is having huge potential.