History
The Co-operative Dairy Movement in India initiated with the establishment of AMUL in 1946. Following that the co-operative district milk unions in different districts took shape. During early 70’s, when the co-operative leaders of erstwhile; Panchmahal District, thought to have a district co-operative milk union at district head quarter Godhra, the neighboring districts of Sabarkantha, Kheda & Baroda had already the existence of well established co-op. dairy network.
On proposal of district leaders to have a separate milk co-operative union at Godhra; the initial survey conducted by National Dairy Development Board; Anand revealed no possibilities of establishment of an independent co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd., at Godhra; due to very low productivity of native milch animals and availability of insufficient quantity of surplus milk..But the leaders were determined and committed for their goal to establish a milk union and under the inspiration & guidance from late Shri Maneklal Gandhi, Late Shri Ratilal Trivedi & Late Shri Dahyabhai Naik, in May,1973 The Panchmahal Dist.Co-op. Milk Producers’ Union Ltd., got registered under Gujarat State Co-op. Act. 1962.
Initially, due to lack of milk processing facilities in district, the milk procurement around 7000 kg per day from about 40 village primary dairy co-op. societies was diverted to the neighboring milk unions of Sabarkantha, Kheda & Baroda. The then Chief Minister of Gujarat Hon’ble late Shri Babubhai Jashbhai Patel laid the foundation stone for the establishing Dairy building at Godhra; in presence of prominent co-operative leaders of the district; including late Shri Maneklal Gandhi; in the year 1977.
The milk procurement was reached to 21000 kgs per day from 128 Dairy Co-operatives. Till March,1983 the Gujarat Dairy Development Corporation managed the activities of the milk union which handed over the total administration of the organization to the elected body of the Panchmahal Dist. Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd., on 1st April,1983. During the years 1980-1994; Mr Babubhai Khatubhai Patel; as one of the youngest Chairman of the Co-operative Milk Unions in the country; helped the organization to build an image of an outstanding and fast growing organization. During this period only in 1982; the organization was brought under NDDB’s ambitious Operation Flood II project. Mr Babubhai Patel helped acquiring 10 acres of land from Govt. of Gujarat to establish a new plant in 1992; the foundation stone of the new plant was laid by the then Chief Minister of Gujarat Late Shri Chimanbhai Patel.
The milk processing capacity of the plant was increased from 30,000 to 60,000 kgs per day in 1984 with the facilities of Ghee Packing Unit. In 1985 the milk processing capacity was further expanded to 100000 kgs per day, with commissioning of a powder plant having capacity of 10MT per day.Under Operation Flood II Programme; the Technical Input activities in form of Animal Health and Animal Breeding were initiated in 1982 under the guidence of milk union officials Dr. H.Y.Kantharia, Dr.V.R.Jani and Dr. G.S.Reddy of NDDB, Anand. Various milk production Enhancements Programmes were launched with specific emphesis on extension activities to bring awareness about ideal animal husbandry practices amongst the milk producer members. Mr Ravindra Mathur; during his tenure from 1980 to 1998 as a Chief Executive Officer of the organization; had provided technically competent successful and encouraging leadership to the Panchamrut Team.Under his able leadership; the milk union observed three expansions of milk processing capacity at various stages from 30,000 kgs per day to 200000 kgs per day with the establishment of a chilling Centre at Chopada (Lunawada) in 1994.
