The MDMPU registered in the range of 16.50 lakh litres per day (LLPD) milk production in the year 2005-06, contributing to one-third of the LLPD milk production in the State. This year it stands at 50.83 LLPD, an increase by 1.90 per cent.

Chairman of the Mehsana District Co-operative Vipul Chaudhary attributes this to the fact that farmers in the areas have to mainly undertake milk producing activities in the absence of alternative livelihoods. ‘‘Due to adverse climatic condition, farming is not possible in the area and there is no other source of livelihood for people either. This leads them to fall back upon rearing cattle for producing milk,’’ he said.

Besides, calculated measures focused on increased milk production by the 1,241 societies that the Union involves, has also helped fight climatic odds, an important one being the scarce fodder supply as it’s a dry area. There has been a detailed effort on part of the Union to increase cattle fodder, Sagardan.

‘‘We have been making full-capacity utilisation of the Sagardan-producing plants at Boriavi and Ubkhal, which has a current capacity of 450 MT and 300 MT respectively,’’ said Lokesh Kulshrestha, assistant officer (Technical), Doodhsagar Dairy at Mehsana. The production capacity is expected to augment with an additional 150 MT capacity per day in each.

Source: Ahmedabad Newsline