initiative to set up a dairy farm in the area for which 2,283 bighas of land were allotted and necessary funds were sanctioned and released.

Now,the talk is all about reviving the dairy project at Harintilla in Borkhola constituency of Cachar which in fact never saw the light of day.

The construction of the RCC building for the farm started in 1980 and a part of it was completed but was never completed in full.The project had a natural death in silence and the building constructed at a cost of lakhs of rupees lay abandoned.In the course of time,it was all covered with overgrown bushes and shrubs.

Dr.Rumi Nath,MLA of Borkhola,after maintaining a low profile for a long time seems to have become active and has shown keen interest in the revival of the dairy farm

project.She visited the abanShahnawaz,Director,and Nazim Uddin,Deputy Director of the Dairy Department.The Director advised his junior colleague Nazim Uddin to prepare a project report along with its feasibility in order to take a final decision in this regard.During a discussion with media persons,it was revealed that Borkhola produced 2,000 litres of milk every day.

The Director was in favour of making a fresh move with a milk collection centre at the project site to begin with.It was necessary that a power run milk cooler to be installed at the centre.The collected milk would then be sent to the dairy farm at Ghungoor,near this town,which would then be put in packets and marketed across the valley.

The Deputy Director,Nazim Uddin,who had gained a lot of experience in dairying at the famous Amul Company and also had his studies and training,besides his first assignment there,was enthusiastic about the revival of the dairy farm and spoke about its prospects.According to him,Amul Taaza and Amul Spray were meeting the larger demand of the people of Barak Valley which needed three lakh litres of milk every day.The town of Silchar alone needed 1 lakh litres of milk,but only 1% of it could be met by the Government Ghungoor Dairy Farm,located near the town.

Against this dismal story,questions naturally arise,is the talk of the ‘white revolution’ a misnomer or a gimmick before the ensuing Lok Sabha elections?

The Deputy Director was in favour of starting a cooperative system in villages and as he said,five societies consisting of 4 to 5 villages in one group could form the union.It would then be the cooperative system on the basis of which people would be encouraged to have their own cattle and produce milk.In order to give a definite edge and direction to the dairy farm,Amul,according to him,was ready to train 100 persons in the first batch in dairy farming with necessary guidelines,inputs as well as all the basics including rearing of the cattle for increased production.Amul had agreed to train people in batches of 100 round the year.The trained persons would then be able to work as veterinary doctors as well.

Milkmen would not have to depend upon the veterinary department for any kind of illness of their cattle,the Deputy Director pointed out.Locally produced milk in conducive temperature,he pointed out,contained the much needed protein and vitamin for the consumers which would not be available in Amul Taaza or any other imported milk brand.

Nazim Uddin further said that if everything went according to the plan,he would arrange for loans on soft terms from the banks for 3,000 persons against their Kisan Credit Cards.If 2,000 litres of milk could be processed and produced,his department would arrange cycle vans for their collection from the collection centres.It was his advice that the milkmen should take to the cultivation of Napier organic grass which has been proved to be more nutritious for the cattle.It is in other words,rich fodder for the cattle which would lead to higher yields of milk.

FACT FILE Revival of Dairy Project at Harintilla in Borkhola,Assam is on the way. Borkhola now produces 2000 litres of milk every day. The demand for milk in Baraack valeey per day is 3 lakh litres. The shortfall is met by importing Amul Taza and other dairy milk products. Silchar alone needs 1 lakh litre of milk every day. Amul at Anand has agreed to provide training to 100 persons.

The plan was also for arranging loans with 50% subsidy for the farmers from Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.It was also deemed essential that with the involvement of NGOs,awareness camps on dairy farming and other related matters could be arranged.Along with all this,the veterinary and dairy departments could hold joint animal health camps.With all these initiatives,dairy development could be given a new dimension in Barak Valley with Borkhola as its epicenter.Everything however depends on proper implementation,and this is the common perception.

It will be relevant to recall here how the special dairy development project ‘Camul’(Cachar Milk Producers Cooperative Union Ltd.)failed due to the state’s gross mismanagement.It was the project that was to herald the ‘white revolution’ in the valley.It was designed on the pattern of Amul to produce milk powder and pasteurized butter.But,it failed on both counts.On the other hand,two more projects initiated together,West Assam Milk Producers Cooperative Union,Guwahati,and Assam Milk Producers Cooperative Union,Jorhat,are stories of success.
 
The chilling plant at Ghungoor project was to raise the capacity from 5,000 litres to 10,000 litres.Camul was formulated by the state government and the plant was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Assam,Hiteswar Saikia,on August 4,1983,in the presence of the minister of veterinary of the time,Jagdish Choudhury.The National Dairy Development sent a `5 crore project to the state for expansion,increasing the strength of primary milk producers’cooperative societies and import of Jersey cows.Strangely,the state government did not act.85 primary milk producers’cooperative societies were formed to supply milk to Camul.Despite all the prospects and potential,the present plant at Ghungoor could produce 600 litres of milk only.
 
Against this dismal story,the questions naturally arise,as to whether the talk of the ‘white revolution’ a misnomer or a gimmick before the ensuing Lok Sabha elections?Our leaders and planners have to take lessons from the astounding success of Amul if they are really serious about initiating a ‘white revolution’ in this valley.It all depends upon efficient management,teamwork and above all accountability and transparency.Amul is a classic example of this.

Formed in 1946,it is a brand managed by a cooperative body,the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.(GCMMF),which today is jointly owned by 3 million milk producers in Gujarat.Amul spurred India’s ‘white revolution’,which made the country the world’s largest producer of milk and milk products.In the process Amul became the largest food brand in India and has ventured into markets overseas.Dr.Verghese Kurien,founder-chairman of the GCMMF for more than 30 years (1973–2006),is credited with the success of Amul.We need a man of vision,dynamism and determination and not politicians with oratory and demagoguery.Sadly enough,this valley has no dearth of such leaders who only promise to take the people for a ride.

Jyoti Lal Chowdhury