Sarhad Dairy to treble processing capacity

The project will be completed within next two years and will increase the dairy's processing capacity three times from a current 50,000 litres per day

Kutch-based Sarhad Dairy is going to expand its storage and packaging capacity with an investment of Rs 70 crore. This project will be completed within next two years and will increase the dairy's processing capacity three times from a current 50,000 litres per day.

"At present, we are sending our milk collection for packaging to Ahmedabad at Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation's (GCMMF) plant as we have very small packaging facility in Anjar taluka of Kutch. We are in process of setting up new packaging and storage unit with some new products manufacturing under Amul brand," said Valamji Humbal, chairman, Sarhad Dairy, Kutch. He is also positioned as director in GCMMF which markets milk and milk products under the Amul brand.

Sarhad Dairy currently collects about 350,000 litres milk from around 40 dairy cooperative societies (DCS) in Kutch area. Out of this, it processes and packs only 50,000 litres milk daily, while rest is sent to Amul's plant near Ahmedabad.

Humbal said,"The new plant will have an initial processing capacity of 150,000 litres per day, which would be expandable upto 600,000 litres per day in the long run."

The dairy is also planning to double its procurement from a current 350,000 litres per day. With the new packaging and storage capacity, it will also increase collection centers in Kutch area. at presently it has about 600 collection centers in Kutch area, mostly near Anjar. This new plant will produce more than fifteen other products including milk powder, butter, ghee, butter milk, curd and ice cream under the Amul brand. The dairy is also considering to provide life insurance cover of Rs 100,000 to the women associated with it. For this it will soon open tender and invite insurance companies. Around 15,000 women are associated with the dairy.

"We are planning to give life insurance to milk farmers and premium for this will paid by Sarhad Dairy", said Valamji Humbal.