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Abstract
India is the leading milk producer in the world and the dairy cooperatives
are the backbone of Indian dairy industry. This study has analyzed the
inefficiencies existing in improving milk production, procurement pattern,
marketing channels, and price spread of a dairy cooperative, Uttaranchal
Cooperative Dairy Federation Ltd (UCDFL), also known as ‘Anchal’ in the
Kumaun region of Uttarakhand and has proposed a model for eliminating
these inefficiencies. It has been found that UCDFL is focused mainly on
liquid milk marketing and has not adopted product diversification, which
is the need of the day. Nainital and Almora districts of Kumaon region
have been selected for the study; these cover almost 40 per cent of cattle
population in the division, except Udham Singh Nagar. It has been found
that due to insufficient margins, the number of agents working for other
private dairies has increased. Different marketing channels for milk have
been identified and price spread has been calculated for all the channels.
Lack of business development services related to dairy industry has been
found leading the farmers to disassociate from Anchal. The study has
suggested that Anchal should evolve a definite policy with regard to
procurement of milk in both lean and regular periods and to sustain its
members, incentive package should be provided. Anchal should find ways
to establish fodder banks at strategic locations for providing fodder during
emergencies and periods of fodder scarcity. Local sale of milk at the society
level should be encouraged to increase the popularity of Anchal brand.