Co-operative movement in Gujarat and its impact on Socio-economic aspects of life
Dairy co-operative movement in Gujarat
The dairy co-operative movement in Gujarat is a success story by itself. The cooperative movement in Gujarat started with a modest attempt to organize 20 villages in Kheda district of Gujarat to collectively produce and supply milk to Bombay. This model of co-operatives was later expanded to Kheda district to form Anand Milk Union, widely known as Amul, and then, under the National Dairy Development Board, to other districts of Gujarat in the 1970s and to 170 districts of India in 1980s. The village co-operatives are linked to the markets through district level cooperatives.
Dairy industry in Gujarat state is well-established at present and is taken as a model for replicating in other states of the country. The dairy sector in the state assumes key importance as it is a business that helps generate the best alternative additional income and employment for poor, rural farmers. Milch animal-holders feed and nourish dairy animals with crop residuals and agriculture by-products available with them.
Gujarat dairy co-operatives have a 3-tier structure termed as ANAND PATTERN Co-operatives. The milk is collected at village level co-operative societies and processed by district unions themselves. While district unions them-selves market the liquid milk, the marketing of surplus milk and milk-products is undertaken by state level federation viz. Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited, Anand (GCMMF). The dairy development on co-operative basis was obviously a great success in north and central regions of the state so much so that it caught peoples imagination whereas in Kachchh and the district in the Saurashtra region it lagged behind marginally.
The State Government established Gujarat Dairy Development Coopration (GDDC) in 1973 with a view to supporting dairy development programme for the districts which lagged behind. By the end of 1995-96, 18 out of 19 districts had been covered under the co-operative Milk Producers union. Out of 18 dairy plants, 12 dairy plants are uner GCMMF and 6 dairy plants viz. Jamnagar, Surendranagar, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Junagadh and Kachchh are under GDDC. There are 5 milk product factories also.
The average capacity of these dairies is to process around 30 lakh liters of milk per dairy. Factories for milk products have been, producing products per day on an average 24 lakh liters of milk. There are 10 cattle feed factories under GCMMF/GDDC with production capacity of 1800 MT per day. There are 35 chilling cooling centres with a capacity to hold 14.82 lakh liters milk. The number of milk producers co-operative societies in the state at the end of March 1995 were 10,462 with 17.2^ lakh members on their rolls.
The co-operative dairy structure is very sound is central, north and partially in the southern region of the state. The milk producers of these regions have no major problem for the marketing of milk even in flush seasons. Majority of milk producers of these region sell their milk through milk co-operative societies. Few producers sell milk either directly to consumers or to milk vendor/middlemen. The exploitation of milk producers by milk vendor/ middlemen is low due to the existence of cooperative societies in the village. Milk producers have easy access to all types of veterinary and health care services available in co-operative milk producers union and in nearby Government veterinary clinic.
The co-operative structure is very weak in Saurashtra and Kachchh regions ofthe state. A number of villages are yet to be covered by the milk co-operative societies. The bulk of the milk trade of this area is controlled by small private traders known as ‘Dudhias’ who purchase milk from producers and transport it to nearby towns and sell it. Milk producers here are at the mercy of ‘Dudhia’ or middleman who offer slightly better price in lean season and extremely low in flush (winter) season. Milk being a perishable commodity, most of the producers, particularly small producers, are compelled to sell milk at low prices to meet their cash requirements. Many milk producers have to travel to nearest towns to sell their milk and milk products. In the absence, of a fair marketing structure, many producers are compelled to convert milk into products, even if they found it non-profitable. Milch animal holders have no easy access to all types of veterinary and breeding services in the absence of co-operative dairy structure.
Co-operative sugar industries of Gujarat
A continuous progress has been observed in co-operative sugar factories in Gujarat. The cooperative sugar factories have enabled the country in becoming not only self-sufficient in sugar requirement but also contribute to the world market. Gujarat is considered to be one of the leading states in India in the co-operative sugar factories and South Gujarat is recognized as the most important centre of successful sugar co-operatives.
Local leadership is one of the most important factors for establishing the co-operative sugar factory. The role played by the local leaders in initiating and encouraging the cane growers for starting their own co-operative sugar factories in their own areas like Madhi, Chalthan and Tribal area of Mahuwa was significant. The local participation assumed the cornerstone in the establishment and expansion of the sugar co-operatives in South Gujarat.
The first co-operative sugar factory established in Gujarat was the Bardoli Co-operative Sugar Factory in Surat District. This sugar factory has introduced many developmental features for social, educational and cultural development as part of its total contribution for the well being, both of its farmer members and of the environment of which they are a part. The sugarcane growers get inspiration from the success experiment of Bardoli Co-operative Sugar Factory and the farmers in this area started to divert more and more land to sugarcane production. Sugarcane was available in plenty in the villages of Bardoli, Palsana, Choryasi, Kamrej, Olpad and Mahuwa talukas of the district. On account of all the facilities, the Chalthan Sugar Factory was started in the year 1967-68 and Madhi Sugar Factory 15 Km east of Bardoli also started in 1969-70. The Bardoli, Madhi and Chalthan, co-operative sugar factories have created a lot of interest and inspiration among the cane cultivators not only in Surat district but also in other districts of South Gujarat. After 1970, four more sugar factories were established in the Surat district at Sayan, Mahuwa, Ukai and Kamrej. Besides other sugar factories were also established in Bharuch and Narmada districts of South Gujarat.
GPSC Notes brings Prelims and Mains programs for GPSC Prelims and GPSC Mains Exam preparation. Various Programs initiated by GPSC Notes are as follows:-- GPSC Mains 2024 Tests and Notes Program
- GPSC Prelims Exam 2024- Test Series and Notes Program
- GPSC Prelims and Mains 2024 Tests Series and Notes Program
- GPSC Detailed Complete Prelims Notes