The Hindu : Front Page : Milking it for what it’s worth

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 26, 2007
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Milking it for what it’s worth

Sharath S. Srivatsa

SEZ shadow looms over Ittasandra, home to State’s largest milk co-operative society

The cooperative procures 2,500 litres of milk a day
It is mostly women who take care of cattle in the village

WHITE REVOLUTION: Milk producers lining up at the cooperative society at Ittasandra, near Bangalore.

Nandagudi (Bangalore Rural): Ittasandra village. At the stroke of 5 p.m., the tranquillity is pierced by a familiar blare from a siren. And life in this remote village stirs into action with villagers, mostly women, carrying milk in colourful pots through the narrow by-lanes.

This fundamentally agrarian society has seen life rapidly change around them. In turn, their adaptability to changing needs has helped the Ittasandra Producers Cooperative Society to become the largest milk producers’ cooperative society in the State, a fact acknowledged by a State-level award. With over 600 cows and 200 buffaloes, Ittasandra is one of those villages where almost all households supplement their income with animal husbandry with each family earning an average Rs. 120 from each cow every day.

However, this situation may soon change with the Government approving the setting up of a special economic zone (SEZ) covering 36 villages in Nandagudi hobli, and Ittasandra is likely to be affected.

“Children are educated from the income that we get from milk production as the family cannot depend on agriculture alone. Every woman in the family contributes her services in maintenance of cows and buffaloes here,” says Chandramma in her mid-50s. She asked: “How can we survive without all these if we are displaced because of the project?”

As a young girl, Chandramma learnt the art of tending to and milking cows from her mother and shouldered the responsibility of managing the cattle when she came to Ittasandra after marriage. Today, her daughter Lalitha continues the tradition like many others in the village that has a population of around 1,500.

Formed in 1972-73, the Ittasandra Producers Cooperative Society today has grown from mere handful of members to around 600, mostly women.

While it started off collecting around 150 litres of milk a day, the society today procures between 2,500 and 2,750 litres a day and in peak season the collection could be nearly 3,000 litres.

On an average, the village produces milk worth Rs. 6 lakh every month, says society secretary C. Narayanswamy.

“We spend around Rs. 25 a day on each head of cattle and get around 12 litres a day. The society pays us Rs. 11 a litre,” adds B. Gopal, another member of the society.

The sericulture industry has supported development of animal husbandry well with mulberry residue, known to be nutritious, being used as fodder for cattle.

Production stagnates

Sadly, the village that was awarded for highest milk production in the State, has been witnessing stagnation for the last two years, especially after the Bangalore Metropolitan Area Development Authority announced the formation of an integrated township.

According to Mr. Narayanswamy, “Households that wanted to add more heads of cattle have postponed the decision as they fear displacement.

Worry over losing their land and livelihood has been haunting them since the Government cleared the SEZ at Nandagudi.”

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