Milk, dairy production rate drops in Manipur
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Asem Babycha

Imphal, October 04 2015: The production and supply of cow's milk in Manipur now needs the attention of the responsible department.

Manipur in recent times have witnessed a drastic drop in the daily production of milk and dairy products.

Moreover, the milk trade has also been afflicted with problems which the authorities need to find a solution.

There are also reports of unscrupulous traders and suppliers mixing unhygienic water with milk before sale of the products.

The production rate of cow's milk in Manipur had gone down drastically in the recent past.

Quality milk in Imphal city and its surroundings have been produced by Manipur Milk Cooperative Union Limited, Porompat and YVO of nearby Thoubal College.

These two processing units used to collect cow's milk from farmers and then distribute them to the public after maintaining the set standard quality.

Milk, dairy production rate drops in Manipur

Apart from these two processing units, several local suppliers also collect milk from farmers and then mix it with unhygienic water before selling it to the consumers.

There are reports which say that these local collectors use pond water for mixing with milk and most of the time, the water they use contain bacteria not fit for human consumption.

The milk product is then packed and sold to the market even without an expiry date.

Food safety officers have not been doing much to look into the issue so far.

Though quality of the milk available in the market can be easily analysed and adequate measures taken thereafter, many unscrupulous traders and suppliers have taken undue advantage of the inaction of the responsible departments.

Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, Chairman of Manipur Milk Cooperative Union Limited Ch Ramananda said that the union produces 5000-5500 litres of milk daily at present though it used to produce 7000-7500 litres of milk per day before the last two months.

He also gave other reasons on why there has been a decline in the cow's milk production in Manipur.

He said that the recent flood in Manipur, the frequent blockades along the National Highways and strikes in connection with the ILPS movement had created transportation bottlenecks in the regular supply of cattle fodder from outside the state.

This has helped lower the rate of milk and subsequently milk products.

One milk seller in Pishum Thongkhong area said that the low supply of milk from the processing units of Thoubal and Porompat has failed to fulfill high public demand.

Important cattle milk producing areas of Manipur include Hiyanglam of Thoubal District and Thanga, Keibul, Waheng Khuman, Ishok and Ithai of Bishnupur District.

Imphal East and West Districts have less quantity in terms of production.

Chairman of Manipur Milk Cooperative Union Limited Ch Ramananda also informed that the Union's milk processing unit collects only 100 litres of milk and 50 litres from Imphal West and Imphal East respectively.