Glitches affect Tiruvannamalai Aavin attain self-sufficiency

Initial glitches, including lack of technical staff and permit from the central government’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), have prevented the newly formed Tiruvannamalai Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union (Tiruvannamalai Aavin) from becoming self-sufficient, revealed officials. 

Stating that this was the first time milk officials were exposed to stringent conditions to get the Centre’s nod, an official said, “The central government’s food safety department raised various queries on the infrastructure we need for the new plant.” 

The infrastructure was yet to be provided for the plant’s proposed requirement, the official said and added, “Once we get the permission, we will be able to manufacture and market the milk products immediately.” 

As Tiruvannamalai unit is separately preparing a project report for Rs 5 crore pasteurization plant which was a must before opting for a sachet making plant, sources revealed that the lack of infrastructure has resulted in the Vellore dairy continuing to provide 10,000 litres of milk sachets. 

Similarly, the plant also needs 15 technical staff including senior dairy staff to man three shifts as the proposed plant works round-the-clock, said officials. Stating that the Tiruvannamalai dairy had enough field staff to meet their daily procurement needs, the sources revealed, “The plant needs technical staff round-the-clock to ensure the quality is maintained.” 

Meanwhile, officials in the Vellore dairy said that the daily procurement slumped to 1.25 lakh litres of milk due to cold conditions experienced in many areas of integrated Vellore district that has restricted the cows from taking enough feed to provide more milk. 

“After 62,000 litres of local sales and another 10,000 litres being sent to Tiruvannamalai dairy, the remaining is routed to Chennai,” officials said. With summer approaching, the Vellore dairy plans to double its last year’s buttermilk and kulfi production to meet anticipated increase in demand, officials ended.