Aavin By-products Set for Nine-fold Rise in Sept

CHENNAI: Production of milk by-products by Aavin is set for manifold increase by September when the new dairy, being set up in Ambattur at a cost of ` 32.40 Crore, would become functional. Minister for Dairy Development BV Ramanaa informed this after inspecting the progress of works in the new dairy on Monday.

Production of ice-cream would go up from 1,500 to 15,000 litres a day while paneer production would go up from 100 to 1,000 kg, curd from 7,000 to 60,000 packets, lassi from 4,000 to 20,000 packets, probiotic lassi from 3,000 to 20,000 cups, and buttermilk from 20,000 to 50,000 packets, he said. Once this increase in production is achieved, the sale of ice cream would be extended to all parts of Tamil Nadu. In all, the production capacity relating to milk by-products would go up from 7,500 to 68,000 litres per day.

Further, the Minister said that vehicles with cold storage facility would be procured at a cost of Rs 5 crore for transporting ice cream and other products. Meanwhile, work is on to increase the capacity of the cold storage facility at Ambattur dairy from 3.5 lakh litres to five lakh litres. This would be completed at a cost of Rs 6.17 crore.

Ramanaa also said that Aavin had been taking steps to increase sale of milk. While consumers are given milk cards immediately, a separate section has been created to supply milk required by cooks, at the place where they need it. Apart from this, Rs 1  per litre is given to them as incentive.

A meeting would be held with hoteliers soon to discuss procurement by them, Ramanaa said adding that the number of wholesale dealers in Chennai and its suburbs would be increased. Recently, the total procurement of Aavin touched a record 30.05 lakh litres a day, the Minister pointed out.