Quality Milk Program launched in 2019 to show results by June 2020

Pashu Sandesh, 08 January 2020

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying GOI, launched Quality Milk Programme on 24.07.2019 with the objectives to achieve Global(Codex)standards for domestic consumption of milk and ensuring traceability & increasing share of milk and milk products in world exports.

In the first phase of the programme during 2019-20, approval has been granted for the strengthening of 231 dairy plants under “National Programme for Dairy Development” scheme to equip them to detect adulterants in milk (Urea, maltodextrin, ammonium sulphate, detergent, sugar, neutralisers etc.). FTIR technology-based Milk Analyser (for accurate detection and estimation of milk composition and adulterants) to 139 dairy plants of 30,000-litre capacities and above and 92 Dairy Plants below 30,000 litres capacity with Electronic Milk Analyser with adulteration testing equipment. In addition one each of State Central laboratory for 18 States has been approved.

The total cost of the project was Rs.271.64 crore. Out of this, an amount of Rs.128.56 crore has been released to States as the first instalment during 2019-20. Once implemented in June 2020, all the cooperative dairy plants of the country will be able to supply Quality Milk tested on all microbiological, chemical and physical parameters to their consumers.

With daily reports of Milk adulteration even at the big cooperatives which handle lakhs Litre of milk per day is really alarming. These incidences have shaken the trust of the consumers. Such initiative if implemented meticulously and transparently has the potential to restore the faith of the consumer both at the domestic as well as international level.