Milkfed procures 8 lakh litre milk every day

Chandigarh, July 9 (UNI) Milkfed has been purchasing about eight lakh litres of milk per day from 3.6 lakh members of its 6,110 Milk Producers Cooperative Societies in the state, said Punjab Cooperation and Horticulture Minister Jasjit Singh Randhawa.

The minister said that ten milk plants of Milkfed with a conversion capacity of 10.59 lakh litres and handling capacity of 15.25 lakh litres per day have been providing 5.67 lakh litres of best quality pasteurised packed milk of various types to the consumers daily.

He said that Milkfed produces a wide range of products for selling in the market which include liquid milk, skimmed milk powder, UHT milk, whole milk powder, desi ghee, butter, cheese, curd, tetra pack kassi, sweetened flavour milk (SFM), ice cream under its brand name of Verka.

To boost the confidence of the milk producers of the state and to bring transparency in milk procurement at the village level, Milkfed has installed around 1,000 automatic milk collection centres and 1,035 electronic milk testers at village level Dairy Cooperative Societies, he added.

The Minister informed that Milkfed had earned profit to the tune of Rs 4.71 crore during the year 2005-06.

Mr Randhawa further said that during the previous financial year more emphasis was on the sale of value added products. In the year 2005-06 Milkfed had sold 41.74 lakh bottles/packets of sweetened flavour milk in comparison of 35.80 lakh bottles/packets in the year 2004-05. Verka brand Lassi in tetra pack has also become very popular among the consumers and during the year 2005-06 Milkfed had sold 15.81 lakh packets of lassi in 200ml packing in comparison of 12.20 lakh packets in the year 2004-05. Milkfed had also made record sale of Raseela Mango drink in 200 ml packets during the year 2005-06, which was 68.66 lakh packets against 37.66 lakh packets in the year 2004-05.

The Cooperation Minister further revealed that during the year 2005-06 Milkfed had sold 12.18 lakh litres of Verka Brand ice cream in the major cities and towns of not only Punjab but in the whole country in comparison to 10.23 lakh litres during the year 2004-05.

The Verka ice cream has maintained its prime position in the markets for its good quality.

Mr Randhawa said that Milkfed has also ensured higher rates to the milk producers besides providing quality products to the public.

He assured the milk producers that the Milkfed would always protect their interests.

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