Date: 03.05.

2015

PMK Founder Dr. S. Ramadoss Statement

AAVIN REFUSING TO PROCURE MILK

TO FAVOUR PRIVATE PRODUCERS?
Aavin (Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Ltd) is refusing to procure milk from
milk producers at a time when milk production in the state has increased. Instead Aavin is maligning
the milk producers. This is highly condemnable.
Aavin had been procuring on an average 30 lakh litres of milk from 4,29,080 milk producers belonging
to 11,503 Milk Producers Cooperative Societies. The procurement of milk that was 24.36 lakh litres
per day in the year 2012-13 is reduced to 23.22 lakh litres per day in 2013-14. However since
procurement price was increased by Rs. 5 per litre the procurement by Aavin increased. Since the
milk production also increased simultaneously the producers are not able to sell all of the milk
produced. The best economics at this juncture would be to increase the procurement and produce
value added products and sell them inland or export. Instead Aavin is punishing the farmers.
Aavin is refusing to purchase milk from milk producers who are members of the Milk Producers
Cooperative Societies in Salem, Krishnagiri and Tirunelveli. In other places also Aavin is procuring
lower than the normal quantity. At the same time Aavin is doing bulk purchase from some of the
private milk producers registered as associate members of the Milk Producers Cooperative Societies.
Aavin is paying them Rs. 25 per litre. Persons belonging to ADMK who function as directors of the
Milk Producers Cooperative Societies find it profitableto themselves to procure at Rs. 25 per litre
from bulk producers instead of paying Rs. 28 per litre to the traditional milk producers. This practice
is spreading to rest of Tamil Nadu also.
To give an excuse for not purchasing milk from the traditional milk producers they say that the
quality of milk is not in par. Aavin is purchasing cows milk and buffalos milk as separate entities. The
two milks will have different qualities. Aavin had been procuring these milk only all these years. Now
maligning traditional milk producers because Aavin can procure milk at lower prices from private
producers is condemnable. It is a ridiculous contradiction that Aavin which certified milk adulterated
with chemicals as pure milk is sidelining the farmers supplying organic cow milk.

Date:
Farmers have agitated against this activity of Aavin by pouring milk on the road. Aavins vengeful
activity is causing two types of damages. The milk not procured by Aavin is sold at very low prices to
local traders. The same milk is sold to Aavin with higher profit disguising as bulk producers. The
private milk suppliers reduced their milk price because they were not able to compete with Aavin
which purchased milk in large quantities and supplied liberally. If the situation continued private
vendors would have reduced milk prices further. Since Aavin is refusing to increase milk procurement
its sales will decrease and sale by private suppliers will increase. This will result in milk prices increase.
There is room for suspicion whether Aavin is working to create such a situation.
It is unpardonable to crush the traditional milk producers to benefit private suppliers. Aavin should
change this attitude and should procure wholly from traditional milk producers. It should be ensured
that both Aavin and traditional milk producers are mutually benefitted.

Yours,

(Dr. S.Ramadoss)