Introduction:

* The Pondicherry Co-op. Milk Producers' Union Ltd. (hereinafter called Ponlait) had commenced its functioning from 07.02.1955 as the Pondicherry Co-operative Milk Supply Society and was marketing the milk to the urban consumers only.

* Ponlait is the first registered Co-operative Society under the Pondicherry Co-operative Societies Act, 1972..

* In view of processing the milk procured from the villages before delivering same to the urban consumers, a milk processing plant with 10,000 litres capacity was installed with the help of National Dairy Development Board in 1971.

* The Pondicherry Co-operative Milk Supply Society was converted as the Pondicherry Co-op. Milk Producers’ Union Ltd. No.P.1 in 1973.

* PONLAIT it  had implemented the Operation Flood-I and Operation Flood-II Scheme of the National Dairy Development Board to disseminate the concept of co-operative movement in Dairy Sector by way of implementing a Co-operative Development Program, starting Amul pattern Milk Producers’ Co-operative Societies, establishing Modern Dairy Plant, implementing Women Co-op. Leadership Development Program, etc.

Functioning of Co-operative Societies:

* Amul pattern Milk Producers’ Co-operative Societies have been started across Puducherry and so far 109 Societies have been registered and of which, 102 Societies are functioning effectively including 19 Women Milk Producers’ Co-op. Societies.

 * There are about 43,000 Milk Producers who enrolled themselves as members in the societies functioning at village level, of which around 8,400 milk producers are in active participation at present.

Bulk Milk Collection:

* The average milk procurement by Ponlait from the Milk Producers’ Co-op. Societies every day is 55,000 litres and the same is collected through 30 Bulk Milk Cooling Centers /BMCs installed across Puducherry Region after subjecting the milk for instant chilling cooling to maintain quality. About 50,000 – 55,000litres per day are out sourced           (Co-operative and Private Dairies) from the neighboring states to meet the market demand.

Benefits to Member of Milk Producers:

* Ponlait effects payment to the Milk Producers on fortnightly basis based on the quantity and quality of the milk supplied by them (For FAT 4.2%, SNF 8.3% milk the rate is Rs.37/- per litrew.e.f.29.12.2022 (Afternoon).

* The price difference (Incentive) have been paid to the milk producers of the Dairy Co-operative Societies for many years. During the year 2023-24 the incentive amount of Rs.3..55 crore was paid to the producers @ 5% of the milk supply value I.e. Rs.1.85 per litre of milk which is the highest value for ever before.

* Ponlait arranges to provide inputs like Feed & Fodder, Breeding and Animal Husbandry Services, Cattle Insurance, besides insuring the milk producers under Group Insurance Scheme. .Ponlait having cattle feed plant with production capacity of 20 MTs per day and supplied 64 MTs of Cattle Feed  to the Milk pouring members for year 2023-24 and also supplied 350 MTs of Cattle Feed for the year 2024-25 ( April’24 to October’24).

Dairy Processing Capacity:

   * As the milk procurement level had increased, the processing capacity of the Dairy had been increased to 30,000 LPD in 1985 and to 50,000 LPD in 1992 and it has been increased to 1.0 lakhs LPD in 2012.  Hence,License was obtained from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in 2012 for the milk processing capacity of 1.2 lakhs LPD.

* Ponlait also manufactures number of value added milk products like, Ghee, Curd, Flavoured Milk, Milk Peda, Ice-cream varieties, Paneer, Kulfi, Butter Milk, Sweet Lassi, Chocolate etc. at sell them at reasonable prices.

 * Ponlait also manufactures Amul Brand Ice-cream varieties on co-packing franchise basis since 2009, an agreement is executed for this purpose with the Gujarat Co-op. Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF). Initially Ponlait had started manufacturing and supplying Amul Brand Ice-creams of about 3000 litres per day in 2009 and it has now increased to around 9,000 litres per day in April 2016 and presently it is 12,000 litres per day during the Apr’24 to Oct’24.

 * Ponlait has installed an Automatic Stick Line Machine for manufacture of Amul  Ice-candy, Chocobar, Kulfi in a large scale manner.

Marketing:

* On an average the liquid milk marketed by Ponlait in Puducherry is 97,000 LPD which includes sale to the General Public, supply to Hospitals, Hostels, Educational Institutions, etc.in way of Toned Milk 8500 LPD (1 litre price Rs.46.00), Special Toned Milk 85.000 LPD (1 litre price Rs.48.00) Standardized Milk 3,500LPD (1 litre price Rs.52.00) respectively.

* The milk and milk products are sold to the consumers through 225 Agents and 65 Ponlait owned Parlours.

* The annual business turnover of Ponlait has reached Rs. 230.48 Crores during the financial year 2023 – 24 (Unaudited).

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