NDDB "milks" IT to improve operations, bring transparency

The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) is using information technology to bring transparency in its operations and improve efficiency in milk collection, said an official.

The board has come out with a software to streamline milk collection and provide farmers and other stakeholders with latest information on real-time basis, said NDDB chairman Dilip Rath.

"The integrated Automatic Milk Collection System (AMCS) software has strengthened cooperative business through digital innovation.

"At present, 48 dairy cooperative societies (DCSs) affiliated to the Bhopal Milk Union are using the AMCS software," Rath told PTI over phone.

A team of media persons yesterday visited the Dugdha Utpadak Sahkari Samiti at Titora in Sehore district, around 40km from here, where the software has been installed.

"We are providing this software to the cooperatives free of cost," he said.

Apart from introducing transparency in operations, the software has improved efficiency. It automates the entire milk collection process with just a click of a button, Rath said.

The automation avoids manual intervention and integrates with milk testing equipment. The application equips farmers and other stakeholders with relevant information to enforce accountability at every step, a senior NDDB official said.

Farmers get instant SMSes on their mobile phones for every transaction, ensuring complete transparency and avoiding data manipulation. Farmers also have access to all past transactions with the Android-operated application, he said.

Transparency and efficiency strengthen the milk producer's faith in the system and also reduce transaction cost for the cooperatives, the official said.

"The software is currently operational in Ujjain, Indore and Bhopal divisions, and we are planning to cover entire MP soon.

"We are also working on this technology in Jharkhand and Karnataka, and will soon introduce it in other states, including Punjab and Rajasthan," Rath added.