As Bihar expands its dairy network and works to boost farmers’ incomes, Shirshat Kapil Ashok, chairman-cum-MD of Comfed and secretary of dairy, fisheries and animal husbandry department, talks to TOI’s Kshitiz about the road ahead. Excerpts:Is Bihar dependent on other states for dairy products?The dairy economy works on interdependence among states. Several products come to Bihar through cooperative institutions, while Bihar also supplies products to states including Jharkhand and Assam. It is more appropriate to see states as complementing each other in procurement and marketing.What is being done to increase milk procurement?Under the ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ initiative and the Saat Nischay-3, we are working to establish dairy cooperative societies in every village. Around 3,000 societies have been established in three months and more than two lakh farmers have joined them.Milk procurement is also rising by around three lakh litres compared with the previous year. An average cooperative has around 45 members, and we want to increase this to 125. More members will naturally mean greater procurement.How will milk production be increased at the farm level?We are focusing on breed improvement, better animal nutrition and veterinary services, including deworming and basic healthcare. Better feeding and improved breeds lead to higher milk production and better incomes for milk producer members.Are chilling and processing facilities being expanded?Yes. Milk collected at village-level societies is immediately taken to Bulk Milk Coolers and then transported to chilling centres or processing plants, depending on distance. Bihar has eight milk unions, and facilities are being developed according to demand.How do farmers benefit from the cooperative system?Consumer prices of milk under Sudha brand depend on market demand and supply. The union or Comfed keeps only a nominal margin, while the maximum possible benefit goes to farmers. Whenever milk prices rise, the price paid to farmers also increases.Sudha products are now being sold at petrol pumps. Will this expand?One Sudha parlour has started at an IOCL petrol pump. IOCL and other oil companies have indicated suitable locations can be used for more outlets. We are also developing Sudha cafeterias, including one planned at Nalanda.Is Bihar planning goat milk products?Yes. We are exploring their commercial potential and working with the Goat Research Institute in Mathura. We are examining whether goat milk can be sterilised and preserved for around three months. If everything goes as planned, such products could be available in the next one-and-a-half to two months.Is technology being introduced into the cooperative system?Yes. Around 4,700 societies, covering more than 50,000 milk producer members, have been connected for direct bank-account transfers. Our target is 10,000 societies during the current year.We are also exploring chatbot-based services and greater digital tracking, allowing milk producer members and officials to monitor milk collection, fat and SNF content.
