THE SALEM DISTRICT CO-OPERATIVE MILK PRODUCERS' UNION LTD, SALEM

PREAMBLE:   

The Salem District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union Ltd., was registered on 10-07-1978 under Tamilnadu Co-operative Societies Act and started functioning from 07-10-1978.  The object of the Union is to carry out activities conducive to the economic development of agriculturists and agricultural tenants and labourers by organising effectively production, processing and marketing of milk commodities. The commercial production of  products viz. Butter, Ghee and Skim Milk Powder started on 16-08-1983.

LOCATION:

The Dairy complex is situated in  about  46 acres of land bounded by Sithanur and Dhalavaipatty villages  in Steel Plant Road.

PROCUREMENT:  

 In total 1100 Milk Producers Co-operative Societies are affiliated and  932 Societies are functioning.   The milk is collected through 55 milk routes daily ranging from  2.5 lakhs to 3.25 lakhs litres of milk per day depending on the season.

The Procurement and Input operations are  managed through 8 milk  procurement  team offices at Salem, Sankari, Namakkal, P.Velur, Attur, Rasipuram, Mettur, and Valapady.  The milk is delivered at the dock of the three Chilling Centres at  Namakkal, P.Velur, Attur and the Main Dairy at Salem for chilling. 

INPUT:        

Artificial Insemination Service, Input Veterinary Service and Emergency veterinary service and being provided to the animals of the producers in societies by the Veterinarians of  this union.  Further, artificial inseminations with exotic, cross bred and murrah bull semen are being undertaken through the 564 Artificial Insemination Sub-Centres of the Primary  societies / Union and doing on an average of 26,000 Artificial Insemination  per month.  Nutritious Cattle Feed is being supplied to the members at par rate.

FODDER:

The union has taken up cultivation of fodder crops like Cumbu Napier, Hamil grass, Buffaloe grass, Subabul, Sithakathi Cholam, Cumbu, Maize, Cowpea and Hedge Lucerne etc. for distribution of seed materials to the milk producers through milk cooperative societies at free of cost/at nominal cost.

TRAINING CENTRE:

The Union had setup a Training Centre in the year 1985 under Operation Flood. The Training Centre is imparting Training to the  DCS Personnel of our union and also from  Periyar, Coimbatore and Nilgiris unions.

The Training Centre conduct  the programmes such as

1. Secretary Training

2. Milk Tester Training

3. A.H.Worker

4. Management Committee Members

5. Dairy Animal Management Training

6. A.I.Refresher Training

7. Cluster A.I. Training

STEP (Support Training Employment Programme)

It is  proposed to organise and assist 25 Women Dairy Co-operatives both in Salem and Namakkal Districts during the period from 2002 to 2005, involving 1750 women members through Self Help Groups.

The proposed 25 dairy Co-operatives will have 70  members in each society and they will be identified, trained in all aspects of Dairying and monitored continuously for their economic upliftment.

DAIRY:

The Dairy has installed capacity to process 3 Lakh litres of milk per day, to produce 10 MT of  Skim Milk Powder 9 MT of Butter and 6 MT of Ghee.

The quantity   of   milk  available  after local  sales  and  despatch  to  Chennai   is  converted into products viz., Butter, Ghee and Skim Milk Powder.  Ghee and Skim Milk Powder are being sold in the markets  all over India through the  Tamil Nadu Co-op. Milk Producers' Federation Ltd., Chennai with "Agmark" and "ISI"  grades respectively.  Our products bear the famous brand name of "AAVIN".    I.S.O. 9002  Certificate also obtained for Production and Supply of Milk, Skim Milk Powder, Butter, Ghee and UHT Milk in Tetra Pack.

PRODUCTS

ASEPTIC PACKAGING STATION

Ultra High temperature treated milk has a shelf life of 120 days at room temperature without refrigeration.  For Ultra High Temperature treatment, milk of low bacteriological count is taken  and is subjected to high  temperature of 140 degree C gradually ( Exposed for 2 seconds) and cooled back to ambient temperature and packed in sterile Aluminium foil polythene paper in the shape of Brick

The main advantages of Ultra High Temperature  treated milk are:

1. No refrigeration is required.

2. Very hygienic and no adulteration can be done.

3. Single way transportation, easy for storage, pilfer-proof   and convenience to  consume.

4. Reasonable price.

QUALITY CONTROL:

The wing comprises two sections: as Chemical and Bacteriological.

The role of the lab is to assist in stage-wise testing and reporting the quality status of milk processed and standardized so that milk of the correct standards are prepared and marketed.  Similarly Cream, Butter, Butter-Milk, Ghee and Skim Milk Powder are tested at regular intervals both during production and storage to check that there is no quality deterioration.  Water, cleaning chemicals packing  materials, etc., are also tested regularly to ensure their conformity to pre-set standards.  The bacteriologists check incoming and processed in milk and also milk products in addition to water & environmental air to ensure that they are free from harmful microorganisms.  They also check the sterility of plant and equipment to ensure their hygienic status. The Dairy has an effluent treatment plant.  The effluent is  tested periodically to ensure that it satisfies the standards prescribed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

MARKETING:

Salem Union markets about 83,000 litres of liquid milk per day in Salem & Namakkal  Districts through 15 Routes,  375 sale points and 25 parlours.

The products are available at the  parlours and for special orders and requirement of  products the following offices may be contacted.