Chairman's Message
Panchamrut Dairy celebrates fifty years of success in the center of Gujarat, in the now renamed Panchmahal district. This milestone marks the livelihood of 300,000 milk producers in the Panchmahal, Mahisagar and Dahod districts. The journey from dream to reality has been a thrilling, torturous, and dedicated struggle, experienced first-hand by those who have lived it.
This glowing history tells the story of Panchmahal Dairy, also known as Panchamrut. Its development has been an elixir for the farmers of Panchmahal, Mahisagar, and Dahod districts. Like dhritrashtra from Mahabharata, God himself, allotted khandavvan to the innocent and poor farmers of the district. The challenges they faced were immense: rocky terrain, inadequate irrigation, and a low economic base made it hard to sustain a livelihood through farming and animal husbandry alone.
Milk production, typically a side-occupation for farmers, became their primary source of income due to these adversities. While milk societies existed in neighbouring Vadodara, Kheda, and Sabarkantha districts, Panchmahal had no such organization, leaving its farmers at a disadvantage.
Seeing the distress and helplessness of the poor tribal, the transformation began with the tireless efforts of leaders like late Mr. Maneklal Gandhi, late Mr. Dahyabhai Nayak, and late Mr. Mangalbhai Haribhai Patel. They decided to establish a cooperative milk union for Panchmahal with the help of Dr. Kurien, a pioneer of the co-operative movement and the White Revolution.
In 1973, the Panchmahal District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd. was established at Godhra. 40 milk societies were initially contacted, with 7,000 liters of milk previously pouring to societies of Kheda, Vadodara, and Sabarkantha milk unions. With the support of late Mr. Bhikhabhai Raijibhai Patel, late Mr. Tapubhai Tribhovandas Parmar, and late Mr. Padmashankar Someshwar Pathak, a separate new milk union was proposed and registered on May 8, 1973, with Reg. No. U 1035. Despite a lower price of Rs. 26 per kilo fat compared to Rs. 32 in other districts, Panchmahal farmers cooperated by pouring milk.
In 1978-79, the Gujarat Dairy Development Corporation authorized the establishment of a chilling center with a 30,000-liter capacity per day in Panchmahal and acquired land for the same, Mr. Mangalbhai Patel became the first chairman.
After tireless efforts of the employees, by 1978-79, 128 milk societies were established, with a procurement of 21,000 liters of milk. On December 17, 1979, a 30,000-liter capacity plant was started in Godhra.
Until 1982, the milk union was managed by the Gujarat Dairy Development Corporation. On April 1, 1983, management was transferred to the District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, leading to an increase in milk societies and milk producers. The dairy capacity was expanded in stages to 1 lakh liters, then to 2 lakh, 4 lakh liters and 6 lakh liters, boosting milk income.
In 1994, land was acquired at Chopda of Lunawada Taluka, and a 50,000-liter capacity chilling center was established. To provide treatment to the animals of milk producers veterinary officer appointed and taluka wise veterinary sub center started so that they can treat the animals in emergency, also established artificial insemination centers to provide artificial insemination services.
In 1982-83, the Panchmahal milk union was included in the Operation Flood-II program of the National Dairy Development Board and expanded dairy plant to 1 LLPD capacity and established powder plant having capacity of 10 MT with the expenditure of Rs. 485 lakhs.
By 1992, primary cooperative societies were established in 800 villages, involving about 100,000 milk producers.
In 1993-94, 10 acres land was on leased, 5 acres land was allotted by government. Looking to the increase in cooperative dairy industries during 1993-94 dairy plant capacity was expanded to 1 LLPD to 2 LLPD with the expenditure of Rs. 363 lakhs under operation flood-III of national dairy development board.
During the year 1994-95, powder plant capacity was expanded from 10 MT to 18 MT with the expansion of the dairy plant.
A chilling center having capacity of 30,000-liters was established at Limdi of Jhalod taluka in Dahod district with the financial support of the tribal area sub plan and district rural development Agency, Dahod during year 1998.
In 2002, BMCU having capacity of 10,000-liter was established at shivrajpur of halol taluka with the financial support of tribal area sub plan, Panchmahal.
By 2003-04, the Godhra dairy plant’s capacity expanded to 4 LLPD, and Chopda chilling center’s capacity to 2 LLPD.
With the aim to provide good quality cattle feed for the animals of milk producers, during the year 2004-05, cattle feed factory having capacity of 100 MT was established at Khandia of Shahera taluka with the financial assistance of Rs. 4 crores from the government of India and the government of Gujarat. It was inaugurated by then-Chief Minister and current Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on December 28, 2004, and the Bypass protein cattle feed plant was inaugurated on December 14, 2005.
On October 25, 2009, I took charge of Panchamrut Dairy, with a vision to integrate more milk producers from Panchmahal, Mahisagar, and Dahod districts into Animal Husbandry, to enhance their social and economic development.
Milk procurement started from Rajasthan in 2011, Madhya Pradesh in 2013, and Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh in 2014.
In 2013, a milk processing and packaging plant was established at Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, and in 2018 and 2022, milk processing and packaging plants were set up at Taloja (Mumbai) and Malegaon, respectively, to process and sell milk products under the Amul brand.
To maintain quality of milk and reduce transportation costs, chilling centers were established at Pipero (Dhanpur) in 2008, at Kharedi in Dahod district in 2009, Moti Sarasan of Santrampur taluka in 2012, Narukot of Jambughoda taluka in 2015, Tadva of Shahera taluka in 2019, and Sarswa of Fatepura taluka in 2023.
In 2019, an ideal Calf Rearing Center was established at Gaman Bariana Muwada of Shahera taluka with the aim of demonstration to milk producers regarding scientifically reading of calf.
In 2020, frozen semen station was established at Dhanol of Godhra taluka to provide quality breed semen doses for the artificial insemination of animals of milk producers of panchamrut dairy.
In 2021, a butter cold storage facility was set up in Tadva chilling center, Shahera taluka, to manage the increasing butter production and reduction in transportation and storage costs.
The developmental journey of Panchamrut Dairy’s during Golden Jubilee year, the daily average milk procurement crossed 20 lakh liters and turnover of Rs. 4000 crores which is historical achievement. Products like milk pouches, UHT milk, Amul Whole Milk, dahi, chhas, butter, shrikhand, paneer, powder, coffee, and sweets are sold under the Amul brand. The cooperative also achieved sales of over 100,000 MT of cattle feed, received AAA/stable and A1+ ratings, and fixed assets worth Rs. 1260 crores. Milk Producers paid Rs. 883 per kilo fat, with 87% return.
To continue this unstoppable golden developmental journey and social and economic development of milk producers, milk processing and packaging plant having capacity of 5 LLPD and ice cream plant having capacity of 1 LLPD will be established at Ujjain of Madhya Pradesh. Ice cream plant having capacity of 1.5 LLPD will be established at Taloja (Mumbai) of Maharashtra. The Malegaon dairy plant of Maharashtra will be expanded to produce milk, curd, buttermilk, and paneer production. The Panchamrut Dairy Godhra plant’s capacity will increase to 16 LLPD and powder plant having capacity of 60 MT, table butter plant having capacity of 25 MT will be established.
I extend my sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendrabhai Patel for their support in developmental journey of Panchamrut. I also thank our milk producers, Managing Director, departmental heads, technical experts, officers, and employees for their efficient services.
I pray that journey of our organization will be continued with the devotion, cooperation, service, and, goal leading to further progress in the coming years.
Jay Shri Khodiyar
Bharat Mata Ki Jay…
Jethabhai Aahir (Bharwad)
