Rajkot Dairy hikes milk procurement price by Rs 10/kg fat

Rajkot District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited, well-known as Rajkot Dairy has increased milk procurement price by Rs 10 to Rs 515 per kg fat. The new rate has been made applicable since Monday.

"We have decided to increase procurement price by Rs 10 per kg fat for the benefit of the farmers. Moreover, as our turnover and profit increased, we have to decided to pass on the same to our milk producers," said J P Shah, in-charge managing director of Rajkot Dairy. The dairy has increased the milk procurement price from Rs 505 to Rs 515 per kg fat. The dairy has claimed that, as compared to other dairies under Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF), Rajkot dairy is offering the highest procurement price in Gujarat.

Shah said that, in a recent times, cattle farmers are facing shortage of fodder for their animals and price is also high. "To support our milk suppliers we have taken this decision," said Shah.

Since 1999, Rajkot Dairy used to pack and market milk under the brand name 'AMUL', besides its own brand 'GOPAL'. However, in the year 2006 under Brand Consolidation strategy it was decided to pack its liquid milk under a singular brand of 'Amul'.

According to Shah, currently, per day supply of milk has decreased due to cattle food shortage in the state. Moreover, per day milk supply in Rajkot dairy has declined from 450,000 litres to 300,000 litres. This kind of situation will continue till next two months.

The dairy procures milk mainly from 14 talukas with 716 functional dairy cooperative societies (DCS) including 366 women DCS and also from four other districts namely, Junagadh, Amreli, Porbandar and Jamnagar.

Milk by Rajkot Dairy is procured from the small scale producers from these Talukas and is sent to their nearest chilling centres. Apparently, Rajkot Dairy has five chilling units at Wankaner, Jamkandorna, Lajai, Vichhia and Majevadi besides one composite dairy plant at Rajkot.