Organisation of Rural Milk Procurement | Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Science Optional for UPSC PDF Download

Summary of Indian Milk Production and Dairy Industry

Overview of Milk Production in India

• 1970-71: India produced 22.5 million tonnes of milk.
• 1980-81: Production increased to 315 million tonnes.
• 1989-90: Production further rose to 51.44 million tonnes.
• 1995-96: Milk production reached 66.30 million tonnes.
• 1997-98: India surpassed the USA, becoming the world's leading milk producer at 70.5 million tonnes.
• 2000-2001: Production increased to 83.97 million tonnes.

Per Capita Availability of Milk

• 1996-97: Per capita milk availability was 201 gm.
• 1999-2000: Availability increased to 214 gm.
• 2001-02: Availability further rose to 226 gm.

Cattle and Buffalo Population

• 1995-96: Cattle population was 206 million, buffalo population was 80 million.
• Buffalo milk production accounted for 52% of total milk production.

Development of Dairy Industry

• 1950-51: Central Dairy of Aarey Milk Colony marked the beginning of the market milk industry in India.
• Dairy industry organization similar to western countries: Collection, cooling, processing, and distribution in metropolitan cities.

Rural Milk Procurement

• Best organized through milk cooperatives like the "Anand Pattern".

Kaira District Milk Producers' Co-operative

• Success in providing necessary inputs to farmers for increased production.
• Input facilities provided:
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  • Cattle feed and fodder at reasonable rates.
  • Veterinary aid at the farmer's doorstep.
  • Artificial insemination services in the village.

Procurement of Milk in Dairying

• Overview of Milk Production and Collection

  • Milk production mainly rural, demand urban
  • Collection methods:
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    • Cooperative Organizations: Formed by producer societies or unions
    • Contractors: Middlemen collect milk, supply to dairy organizations
    • Individual Producers: Direct supply near processing dairies

• Collection Process

  • Farmers bring milk to collection centers twice daily
  • Milk tested for fat content, payment based on fat
  • No adulteration encouraged, but not all aspects considered

• Pricing Systems

  • Differential Pricing System: Based on fat and SNF contents
  • Two-Axis Pricing: Quality-based payment suggested by NDDB
  • Minimum Standards: PFA rules for cow and buffalo milk
  • Premium Payment: Based on quality measurements

Collection of Milk

• To facilitate the assembly and cooling of milk before it is transported to the city, collection-cum-chilling centers are set up by producer's cooperative organizations or city milk distributors in convenient locations near villages.
• The primary function of a collection center is to receive, weigh, cool, and transport milk from producers to the city milk plant.
• Upon arrival, the milk is promptly weighed, cooled, and prepared for shipment to ensure it reaches the city in optimal condition.
• Advantages of using collection centers include reduced transportation costs for producers, minimized chances of losing milk cans, and faster and direct payments to producers.
• Producers can witness the weighing and testing of their milk, leading to fewer disputes, and enable the transportation of higher-quality milk to the city.

Ownership of Chilling Centers

• In many cases, milk collection centers are owned by milk distributors, while in some instances, they are operated by producer organizations.
• When stations are under producer control, they have a say in various aspects of milk collection, such as determining the amount of milk to be collected and the cost paid to producers.
• Producers are relieved of milk-handling responsibilities when stations are owned by distributors, but they may lack bargaining power.

Location and Equipment

• Chilling centers are situated where there is sufficient milk production, access to potable water, proximity to transportation routes, availability of electricity, and proper sewage disposal facilities.
• Essential equipment at a chilling center includes a milk weighing scale, dump tank, can washer, milk pump, plate cooler, refrigerator unit, cold room, and milk testing unit.

Operational Procedures

• Upon arrival, milk is inspected for quality, weighed, cooled, and stored at low temperatures until it is dispatched to the processing dairy.

Grading and Handling of Milk

• Grading of Milk

  • Grading involves assessing milk quality based on sensory tests like smell, taste, appearance, and touch.
  • Additionally, acidity and sediment tests, known as platform tests, are conducted for grading purposes.

• Sampling Procedures

  • A representative milk sample is crucial for subsequent chemical and bacteriological analyses.
  • Sampling begins with thorough mixing of milk using a plunger or stirrer before collecting the sample.
  • The milk's weight is accurately measured after mixing for proper accounting and payment procedures.

• Cooling Process

  • After weighing, milk is rapidly cooled to temperatures below 10°C to inhibit bacterial growth.
  • Efficient cooling is essential as microorganisms present in milk multiply rapidly between 20°C and 40°C.
  • Various cooling methods are employed, including immersion coolers, bulk milk coolers, surface coolers, and plate milk coolers.

Methods of Milk Cooling

• Immersion Coolers

  • These involve cooling coils immersed in milk using a portable refrigeration system, suitable for small quantities.

• Bulk Milk Coolers

  • Simple insulated tanks used for cooling large volumes of milk directly from the milking pail.

• Surface Coolers

  • Horizontal tubular coolers where milk is distributed over cooling tubes and chilled water or refrigerant flows around them.
  • They have a cooling capacity ranging from 150 to 5000 liters per hour.

• Plate Milk Coolers

  • Similar to plate heat exchangers, these cool milk using chilled water, suitable for handling large quantities efficiently.
  • Plate coolers are cost-effective for volumes exceeding 6000 liters due to their closed system design.

Transport of Raw Milk in India

• Methods of Transport

  Various methods are employed for transporting raw milk in India, depending on the load and distance:

  • For short distances and small loads:
    • Head load, shoulder aling, and pet animals like ponies, horses, and donkeys are used.
    • Bullock carts and tongas are also utilized.
  • For long distances to city milk plants:
    • Milk is transported via motor trucks, rail, and road-tankers.

• Transportation Logistics

  Efficient transportation strategies based on distance and quantity:

  • Milk collection within a 50 km radius:
    • Lorries with ordinary milk cans can be used.
  • Milk collection beyond 50 km:
    • Collection-cum-chilling centers are necessary.
    • Depending on quality, milk can be transported by road-tankers or lorries with thermo-cans.
  • Transporting milk over 300 km to a central dairy:
    • Pasteurization is required, and it can be sent via road or rail-tankers in thermo-cans.
    • Larger quantities are economically transported by road or rail-tankers.

• Cost and Efficiency Considerations

  Factors influencing cost and efficiency in milk transportation:

  • Comparison of costs for transporting 6000 liters of milk:
    • Road-tankers for a 400 km distance: 6 paise per liter.
    • Thermo-cans in lorries: 9.3 paise per liter.
    • Thermo-cans in rail transport: 13.3 paise per liter.
  • Benefits of road-tankers:
    • Less spoilage due to lower surface area to volume ratio and lower bacterial count.
    • More efficient refrigeration and quality assurance.

• Road vs. Rail Transport

  Comparative advantages of road and rail transfer of milk:

  • Road Transport:
    • Cheaper than rail over short distances.
    • Less time-consuming.
  • Rail Transport:
    • Cheaper than road transport over long distances.
    • Capable of handling large quantities of milk at once.