Tiruchi Aavin records highest milk procurement in summer

The Tiruchi Aavin has recorded a highest volume of milk procurement during the summer months in recent years due to summer showers and favourable weather for milch animals.

On an average, the Tiruchi District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union procures 3.75 lakh to 4 lakh litres of milk from Tiruchi, Perambalur, Ariyalur and Karur districts. Procurement comes down during summer months from March to May due to dry weather and shortage of green fodder. The union procures, on an average, 3 lakh litres of milk per day in summer months.

But, this year procurement in summer months has recorded a big jump thanks to the summer showers and favourable weather for milch animals. On Sunday, the union recorded a whopping 4,71,161 litres of milk procurement.

It is said to be a record procurement in summer months in the history of Tiruchi District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union. The average procurement in May 2017 was pegged at 3.89,000 litres.

Sunday's procurement is just short of all time highest volume of procurement of 4.85 lakh litres recorded in October, 2017.

V. Subbu, General Manager, Aavin, Tiruchi, told The Hindu that it was a record in procurement of milk in summer months.

“Procurement had been steadily going up since the first week of May. It is a pleasant surprise and likely to cross 5 lakh litres in the weeks to come,” she said.

She said that the ongoing summer showers in Tiruchi, Karur, Perambalur and Ariyalur districts had helped the farmers get green fodder. Green grass had seen a spectacular growth in most of the villages in Tiruchi and neighouring districts.

A. P. Natarajan, Deputy General Manager, Procurement, said that milk procurement would go up automatically if green fodder was available in plenty. Manapparai, Thuraiyur, Pullampadi areas have been witnessing heavy rain in evenings regularly during the last two weeks. It had helped the farmers in rural areas to feed green fodder to cattle. Moreover, the rain had addressed the issue of drinking water shortage to cattle to a great extent.

Ms. Subbu said that out of 4.71 lakh litres of procurement, 2 lakh litres have been sent to Chennai daily. About 1.20 lakh litres of milk have been earmarked for sales in Tiruchi, Ariyalur, Perambalur and Karur districts. The union sends 18,000 litres of milk sachets for daily sales in Ambatur. Excess milk is being sent to Tiruvannamalai and Erode for milk powder plants.


Procurement has been steadily going up since the first week of May and is likely to cross 5 lakh litres in the weeks to come

V. Subbu

General Manager, Aavin, Tiruchi

Source