Sikkim Milk records 28% growth in 2012-13, posts profits for sixth consecutive year

GANGTOK, 27 Sept: Sikkim Milk Union has recorded 28.27% growth in its annual turnover for 2012-13. The Union earned Rs 3,058 lakhs in the year 2012-13 as compared to Rs. 2,384 lakhs in the year 2011-12.
This was revealed during the 17th Annual General Body Meeting of the Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd held today at the conference hall of the State Institute of Capacity Building, Karfectar at Jorethang.
Presenting the audited annual accounts for the year 2012-13, Managing Director, Dr. P. Senthil Kumar, stated that the Union has seen yet another successful year. For the sixth consecutive year, the Sikkim Milk Union has earned profit. The benefit of such performance is being provided in the form of better milk price to farmers and as price difference to societies, he informed.
A hike of milk price to the farmers to the tune of over 155.88% (more than two and half times) has been provided with the revision of 100 % increase in selling price within a period of six years, he added.
Dr Kumar informed that most of the societies have been provided with automatic milk testing machines for transparent testing while quality control laboratory at Gangtok and Jorethang Dairy plants have been renovated and are being handled by skilled manpower.
He stated that at present Sikkim Milk Union is managing 308 societies including both registered and unregistered with a membership of 9864. During 2012-13, total milk procured from the village milk cooperative was 45,50,755 kg, he informed. He also listed the various benefits being provided to the societies.
In comparative terms, the surplus earned during the year 2012-13 was Rs. 138.52 lakh. Out of this Rs.37.94 lakh of profit after depreciation, Rs. 7.91 lakh is depreciation, Rs. 35.35 lakh has been paid to Employees’ LIC Gratuity, Rs. 46.18 lakh has been provided for their price difference milk price revision, Rs.9.42 lakh to be paid towards employee ex-gratia and Rs. 1.72 lakh paid towards LIC leave Encashment scheme for the employees. The Sikkim Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd is confident that the progress achieved in the last six years since 2007-08 will be taken forward in the coming years as well with the help of all concerned.
Further, as per the recent amendment to Sikkim Cooperative Societies Act, 1978, three additional members consisting of two women members and one ST/SC member were elected in the AGM.
The Secretary, Animal Husbandry, DP Sharma and Registrar, Co-operative Societies, JM Pradhan appreciated the performance of the Sikkim Milk Union and assured all support to the Union. They also stressed upon the linkages required between the cow distribution beneficiaries and the village milk cooperatives societies.
Earlier, the Chairman, Sikkim Milk Union, MB Rai in his address appreciated the cooperation extended by the village milk cooperative societies and management for the sixth consecutive year. He informed that the dairy farmers are receiving incentives in the form of price difference for the sixth consecutive year and also stressed on the need for responsible participation from the village societies to further improve on the quality and quantity of milk procured by the societies.