CHAPTER V

ROLE OF CO-OPERATIVE
DAIRY INDUSTRIES AND
MILK PRODUCTION

CHAPTER V

ROLE OF CO-OPERATIVE DAIRY INDUSTRIES AND

MILK PRODUCTION
5.1

INTRODUCTION:Milk and milk products are indispensable to the growth of the child and

to the health of the adult. For the infant, milk is a perfect food, for the growing
child, milk and the milk products of the dairy industry are essential foods, and
for adults and expectant mothers they are the most important foods. In India, it
is generally observed that in the north and west the cow are better milkers, but
as one gets to the south and east the milk producing quality deteriorates.
The importance of livestock sector in general and of dairying in
particular hardly needs emphasis in a country like India. The major and more
widely known contribution of livestock sector is in terms of production of
milk and milk products. Apart from milk, this sector contributes meat, hides,
skins, organic manure and draft power.
Milk production activity takes place on individual farms of varying
sizes. This characteristic of milk production system coupled with perishable
nature of milk imposes sever econstraints on devising improved system for
assembling, processing and distribution of milk and its products.
In this chapter, characteristics of production pattern of milk have been
presented. Specially, it covers composition of milk, milk production, price
scene for milk and milk products, relative importance of cows and buffaloes in
milk production, production ratio and seasonal variation in milk production.
5.2 ROLE OF CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT IN DAIRY:The study of dairy activity is not complete without taking into account
the co-operative movement in India. Co-operation means working together in a
team for attaining certain objectives. The spirit of village communities in India
was almost entirely based on the philosophy of co-operation. In the modern cooperative societies may be found at local, regional, national and international

levels, where a distinction is made among them on the basis of the extent of
area they cover.
In Maharashtra, dairy activity is developed on co-operative basis. The
keen interest of state government and support of farmers are the main reasons
for co-operative dairy development in Maharashtra. The dairy activity is now
largely based upon a three tier system under which, the primary village cooperative societies are linked with district union and state federation which are
guided by the national co- operative dairy federation in India.
The structure of co-operative dairy is as follows
1) The Maharashtra state co-operative Milk Federation Ltd at the top level.
2) District or Taluka co-operative Milk Federation at district level.
3) Primary co-operative Milk producing societies at village level.

5.3 MILK COLLECTION:Dairy activity practiced everywhere in study area in Sangli district. The
primary milk societies collect milk in village level and supply to the dudh
sangh in the Sangli district. This point includes the distribution of dudh sangh
and milk collection of the Sangli district.
A. - Distribution of Dudh Sangh in Sangli District. (2008-09):In the Sangli district, there are uneven distributions of dudh sangh. It is
shown as table

Table5.1
Tahsilwise Distribution of Dudh Sangh in the region
Sr
No.
1

No. of Dudh
Sangh
05

Walwa

Khanapur

01

2.7

Kadegaon

02

5.4

Tasgaon

02

5.3

Palus

03

8.1

Miraj

15

40.5

7
8

Kavathe Mahankal
Jat

03
03

8.1
8.1

Shirala

02

5.4

10

Atpadi

01

2.7

37

100

Tahsil

Total

Percentage
13.5

Source Compiled by the researcher.

Tahsilwise Distribution of Dudh Sangh in the region
15

16
14
12
10
8
6

4
1

3
2

2
1

0
Walw a

Khanapur Kadegaon

Tasgaon

Palus

Miraj

Figure No. 5.1

Kavathe
Mahankal

Jat

Shirala

A tpadi

The table 5.1 indicates that the tahsilwise number of dudh sangh and
their percentage to total dudh sangh in the Sangli district. The table shows the
highest number of dudh sangh observed in Miraj tahsil as 15, followed by
Walwa tahsil as five dudh sangh. The number of dudh sangh in Kavathe
Mahankal and Jat tahsil is same as three dudh sangh. The percentage of Miraj
tahsil ranked first which is 40.5 percent, followed by Walwa 13.5. The
percentage of Kavate Mahankal and Jath tahsil is same as 8.1 percent.The
lowest percentage is observed in Khanapur and Atpadi tahsil as 2.7 percent.
5.4

DISTRIBUTION

OF

PRIMARY

MILK

CO-OPERATIVE

SOCIETIES IN THE SANGLI DISTRICT:The primary milk co-operatives are the central agency of the grass-root
extension activity. These societies collect milk from the individual members
and supply it to the Dudh sanghs. These societies get financial assistance by
way of subsidy towards management for an initial period of three years. A
reasonable commission is built in to the pricing structure for the primary milk
co-operatives.
Tahsilwise Distribution of Primary Milk Co-operative Societies of in the
Sangli district (2008-09).
Table 5.2 indicates the classification of thasils according to the presence
of dairy co-operative societies in the region.

Table No- 5.2

Tahsilwise distribution of milk producers Co-operative Societies and Milk Production
in Sangli District (2009)

Sr.
No.

Total Member
Tahsil

No. of Co-operative
Dairy Societies

Total Milk
Collectiom(000li.)

Per Day Milk Collection

Cold
Storage

Walwa

No.
13566

%
31.1

No.
266

%
31.14

No.
65700

%
35.5

No.
180000

%
35.5

Khanapur

1479

3.3

29

3.39

7300

4.0

20000

4.0

Kadegaon

2448

5.6

48

5.62

10220

5.5

28000

5.5

Tasgaon

2295

5.2

45

5.26

16060

8.6

44000

8.6

Palus

1581

3.6

31

3.6

13505

7.2

37000

7.2

Miraj

3468

7.9

68

7.9

13505

7.2

37000

7.2

2193

5.0

43

5.0

9125

4.9

25000

4.9

Kavathe
Mahankal
Jat

4336

9.9

86

10.0

1533

8.2

42000

8.2

Shirala

8211

18.8

161

18.8

17885

9.6

49000

9.6

10

Atpadi

3927

9.0

77

9.0

16425

8.8

45000

8.8

Total

43504

100

854

100

185055

100

507000

100

13

Source District Milk development office Miraj

Tahsilwise distribution of milk producers Co-operative Societies and Milk

Production in Sangli District (2009)

40

No. of Co-operative Dairy

Societies

35

Per Day Milk Collection

30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Walw a

Khanapur Kadegaon Tasgaon

Palus

Miraj

Kavathe
Mahankal

Jat

Shirala

A tpadi

Figure No. 5.2

The table 5.2 reveals that the number of dairy societies in the ten thasils.
Table shows that the tahsil of Walwa is highest (266) dairy societies,and the
member of societies high (13566).The second is Shirala tahsil 161 societies
and also member are 8211.The third is Jath (86) and the lowest societies in
Palus and Kanapur respectively 29 and 31 .The table 4.1 show the highest
member of societies in Walwa thasil (31.1%) followed by Shirala thasil
(18.8)and the lowest in Khanapur thasil (3.3%).The table also show highest
per day milk collection in Walwa thasil (180000litre35.5%)followed by
Shirala(49000litre9.6%),and the lowest per day milk collection from Khanapur
thasil(20000litre 4.0%)

5.5 Employment Generation:The dairy activity in the study region has provided the employment
opportunity to youth in particular area and it helps to create a large scale
employment.

Table No- 5.3

Employment Provided by Dudh Sangh in the Sangli District
Sr.
No.

No. of
Dudh
Sangh/
Dairies
05

Tahsil

Total No.
of
workers.

660

37.5

Monthly
salary of total
%
workers in
lakh Rs.
85.12
49.00

Walwa

Khanapur

01

60

3.3

2.40

1.41

Kadegaon

02

68

3.8

1.98

1.14

Tasgaon

02

112

6.28

4.22

2.44

Palus

03

140

7.8

5.80

3.36

Miraj

15

478

26.83

63.22

36.63

03

45

2.5

1.45

0.84

03

68

3.8

2.03

1.17

Kavathe
Mahankal
Jat

Shirala

02

90

5.00

3.75

2.17

10

Atpadi

01

60

3.3

2.60

1.50

37

1781

100

172.57

100

Total

Source: - Compiled by the researcher.

Employment Provided by Dudh Sangh in the Sangli District
700

660

600
478
500
400
300
200
112
60

100

140

68

68

90

45

60

0
Walw a

Khanapur Kadegaon

Tasgaon

Palus

Miraj

Figure No. 5.3

Kavathe
Mahankal

Jat

Shirala

A tpadi

The table 5.3 reveals that the tahsilwise number of dudh sangh and
number of workers whose work in dudh sangh and their percentage in the study
region.
It is observed that there are 37 dudh sangh or dairies in the study region.
It is provided employment opportunity to 1781 peoples. The highest number of
dudh sangh observed in Miraj tahsil (15) and they provided employment to 478
peoples. The highest percentage of workers and their salary is observed in
Walwa tahsil that is 37.5 per cent and 49.00 per cent respectively, followed by
Miraj (26.83% and 36.63%) and Palus (7.8% and 3.36%) tahsil. The lowest
number of workers worked in dudh sangh has observed in Kavathe Mahankal
tahsil that is only 2.5% per cent.
Thus dairy sector provided more employment opportunities and it helps
the reduction of rural poverty.
Table No- 5.4
Employment Provided by Primary Milk Societies in Sangli District

Walwa

266

532

31.0

Monthly
Salary of total
workers in
RS
2128000

Khanapur

29

58

3.3

232000

3.3

Kadegaon

48

96

5.6

384000

5.6

Tasgaon

45

90

5.2

360000

5.2

Palus

31

62

3.6

248000

3.6

Miraj

68

140

8.1

560000

8.1

43

86

5.0

344000

5.0

86

172

10.0

688000

10.0

Sr.
No

Tahsil

No. of
milk
Societies

Total No.
of
workers

%
31.0

Kavathe
Mahankal
Jat

Shirala

161

322

18.8

1288000

18.8

10

Atpadi

77

154

9.0

616000

9.0

Total

854

1712

100

6848000

100

Source :- Compiled by the researcher.

Employment Provided by Primary Milk Societies in Sangli District

600
532
500

400
322
300
172

200

154

140
96
58

100

90

86
62

0
Walw a

Khanapur Kadegaon

Tasgaon

Palus

Miraj

Kavathe
Mahankal

Jat

Shirala

A tpadi

Figure No. 5.4

The table 5.4 reveals that the total number of milk societies, number of
workers whose work in these societies(2 workers in each societies) and their
monthly salary is 4000Rs
It is observed that there are 854 number of milk societies in 10 Thasials.
The highest number of milk societies observed in Walwa tahsil (266) and
lowest is (29) in Khanapur tahsil.It is seen that 1712 total number of workers
work in these societies, which monthly salary is found 4.48 lakh rupees per
month.
There are positive relation between milk societies and employment
opportunities. The number of milk societies increased, the number of workers
also increased. Thus, the dairy sector has to give more employment to the
people in the study region.
5.6

PROBLEMS

OF

PRIMARY

SOCIETIES:-

10

MILK

CO-

OPERATIVE

The most important factor, the poor performance of primary milk cooperative societies in the region is that they have not realised the crucial
importance of increasing milk yield per animal by better breeding and feed etc.
A major area of weakness of primary dairy co-operatives is that they function
merely as milk vendors, purchasing milk from the members and selling it to the
dudh sangh. Dairy development is an integrated process. Unless the primary
milk co-operatives adopt in integrated approach, success will always avoid
them. If the integrated approach is brought within the reach of the small
farmers it definately yields results. This has been well demonstrated by the cooperative union at Anand in the Kaira district of Gujarat. The small holdings
which were not viable in the controlled areas, have been rendered viable in the
cattle development area owing to greater reliance on dairying by small farmers
rather than on crop production. (sarang, 1986)
Another important problem is of credit facilities to the individual milk
producer on, recommendation of the society or the dudh sangh. The loans are
provided to the milk producer on the basis of milk supplied daily by the
producer. Thus this forms a vicious circle as the low produce results into low
credit. The Dairy Development Department, District Co-operative Bank,
Nationalised and other scheduled bank are the institutions which provide loans
to the producer members, the small and marginal farmers and the landless
labourers are not getting the required credit facilities.

5.7 DAIRY CO-OPERATIVES AND RURAL WOMEN:The participation of the Indian women in productive pursuits of the
country is very limited. This is supported by the fact that female component in
the total working force was of the order of about 20 per cent of the men
workers according to 1981 census. The share of women in the countrys labour
force stands at 31.56 per cent only. The female work participation rate has
registered an increase from 22.3 per cent in 1991 to 32.3 per cent in 2001. Of

11

the 51.98 million female workers engaged in agriculture and allied activities,
45 per cent are employed as agricultural labourers.
The government has introduced a number of measures to create social
and economic awareness among the women. Certainly such measures will
improve their standard of living. Co-operatives which are socio-economic in
character have been recognized as the most suitable institutions to undertake
such tasks by the women.
Poverty alleviation and empowerment of women can be effectively
achieved if poor women could organize themselves as a group. The creative
potential of women can be tapped by mobilizing and enabling them to
participate in various economic activities as effective partners articulating their
hopes and aspirations and by influencing the socio-economic welfare of the
family as well as society.
Dairy development in India has several distinct characters unique to its
economic-socio-cultural and demographic diversity. Dairy development is not
a tool but viewed as synonym with rural development by creating both
employment and income opportunities for disadvantageous groups. Unlike the
advance nations, milk in India is produced by million of resource poor families.
i.e. 20 per cent of milk producers have no land, 66 per cent have land but are
small or marginal farmers with tiny land holdings.
Today women dairy farmers are encouraged to play a major role as
member employees and leaders. Thus, it has becomes an important instrument
for their empowerment. National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) is
committed to increase the women participation by establishing 1062 women
dairy co-operative societies with 90000 women participations. (Plate 4.1)
The dairy co-operative is established with a basic objective to provide
income generating activity to the small and marginal farmers and agricultural
labour etc. and especially to induce the women to participate in income
generating activities like dairy co-operatives with specific aims like:-

12

1. To increase the milk production through application of modern

technology.
2. To increase number of milch animals per member.
3. To encourage women participation in dairy activities.
4. To increase area of operation through vertical and horizontal expansion
of the societies.
5.8 MILK CHILLING FACILITIES:Milk must always be produced, handled, processed, stored and
distributed under clean and hygienic conditions. It must also be kept clean,
covered and cool in order to prevent the bacteria in it from developing and
causing it to sour and spoil. Pasteurization of milk means maintaining milk at a
temperature of 1450F. for half an hour and then rapidly cooling it to about 400F.
Chilling Plants have been installed at Walwa, Shirala, Kadepur,
Tasgaon, Miraj, Sangli, Kavathe Mahankal, Ranjani and Jat. So as to treat the
procured milk. Milk chilling facilities at Government Dairy, Miraj has a
capacity of 150000 litres of per day. Sampatrao Deshmukh Dudh Sangh
Kadepur (25000 litres), Baphana Dairy, Tasgaon (1200 litres). Vasandada
Dudh Sangh, Tasgaon (5000 litres), Thorat Milk products, Miraj (3000 litres),
Nanasaheb sagare dudh sangh, Kavathe Mahankal (25000 litres), Warana dairy,
Jat (40000 litres), Rajarambapu Dudh sangh, Jat (30000 litres) and Vasantdada
Dudh Sangh, branch Jat (80000 litres) of milk chilling per day. Thus the Sangli
district has milk chilling capacity of 389200 litres of milk per day, which is
quite sufficient as far as the total milk procurement is considered.
5.9 ICE PRODUCTION:Milk is a perishable commodity. It is necessary to keep it at the lower
temperature during its transport from the collection Centers to the dairies where
the chilling and processing plants are located. Some of the dudh sanghs is the
Sangli district have installed the ice factories of their own. The following ice
manufacturing facilities were available in the Sangli district 2009-2010.

13

Table No 5.5
Iceproduction in the Sangli District
Sr.
No.

Name of Ice Factory / Sangh

Ice Production

Rajarambapu Dhudh Sangh,Walwa

15 tons per day

Hutatma Dhudh Sangh,Walwa

10 tons per day

Fatehesing Naike , Shirala

05 tons per day

Himalaya Ice Factory, Jat

10 tons per day

Sakharam Ice Factory, Tasgaon

10 tons per day

Das Agro Ice Factory, Tasgaon

05 tons per day

J. K. Ice Factory, Miraj

100 tons per day

Nanasaheb Sagare Dudh Sangh, Kavathe

Mahankal
Rajarambapu Dudh Sangh, Branch Jat

10 tons per day

Total

05 tons per day

170 tons per day

Source Compiled by the researcher.

The table 5.5 indicates that the ice-production in tons per day in the
Sangli district. The table reveals that the ice production in the region is 170
tons per day. The highest capacity of ice production at J.K. Ice factory, Miraj
has 100 tons per day. The Rajarambapu Dhudh Sangh, Walwa 15 tons per day,
Hutatma Dhudh Sangh, Walwa 10 tons per day, the capacity of ice plant at
Nanasaheb Sagare has 10 tons per day. The ice factory at Himalaya is not used
to their fullest capacities due to severe shortage of water during summer. The
ice requirement of these plants is 10 tons per day. At present these ice factories
depend upon the local demand in the Sangli district. The main problem of
shortage of ice is of accute shortage of water during summer, which needs an
immediate attention.
But earlier, demand of ice has decreased due to increased number of
chilling plants and also cold storage.So the production of ice taking the demand
of ice at dudh sangh.

14

5.10

FODDER DEVELOPMENT:
Fodder development involves popularisation of the cultivation of

improved fodder grasses like giant hybrid Napier, Guinea Rhodes and para as
well as of leguminous fodder crops like lucerns, berseem, several varieties of
cowpea and guar.
The area under pastures is decreasing at a very rapid rate in the western
tahsils due to the increasing facilities of irrigation. The spearhead team of
National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) is trying to popularies the fodder
development scheme among the milk producer farmers in the region. Cheri,
Lucerns, berseem, Maize and many other fodder crops are becoming popular
among the farmers.
The popular practice in sugarcane growing tahsils, is to feed the milch
animals with sugarcane crops, which have very low nutritional value as fodder.
In addition to this some adverse effects like delay in the inter calving periods
are also seen. It is necessary either to substitute sugarcane crops or to
supplement them with additional cattle feed.
Generally 80 percent livestock of Sangli district depends on natural
green grass in rainy season and dry fodder in summer season. In monsoon
period, the green fodder availability is sufficient to livestock. But in summer
season, the supply of green fodder is not sufficient to livestock. Therefore, in
summer season livestock seems week. The livestock distribution depends upon
the climatic conditions and fodder availability. The green and dry fodder and
concentrate feed are the main three sources of fodder and feed for livestock
feeding. Generally the large numbers of livestock are found in areas where
good quality of fodder is available in sufficient quantity. Low quality of feed is
always responsible for low quality and quantity of milk in dairy activity.
Concentrate is the rich source of protein which contains 30 to 35 percent
proteins. The protein content of the green fodder varies from grasses which are
low in protein, to leguminous fodder species which are a rich source of protein.

15

In the irrigated areas of the Sangli district, green such as grass, ghas
(special fodder), Maize, Kadwal grow throughout the year but in the nonirrigated areas green fodder is grown only in the rainy season. In the irrigated
tract, dairy operators use sugarcane and its residues. Besides this, during the
summer season Maize is also cultivated both in the irrigated and the nonirrigated region as green fodder. The price of green fodder during the summer
season is very high which indirectly affects the price of milk.
If green feeds and fodders are available, the cost of milk production will
be lower. If the animals are maintained on straws and concentrates the cost of
milk production will be too high. Further, adequate minerals will have to be
provided.
In the total ratio of dairy animals, the percentage of roughage is quite
high. All the milk producers in the region use roughage for dairy animals
throughout the year. Dry grasses, wheat straw, sunflower straw, Jowar straw
(Kadba) are the major crop residues for dairy cattle.
5.11

FINANCE FOR DAIRYING:The production of milk cannot be enhanced, only by assuring markets. It

is absolutely necessary to help the milk producers financially for the purchase
of milk animals. The Government agencies like I.R.D.P and Western Ghat
development agency are helping the milk producers by financing them. A
special provision has also been made in the plan as a special component for
helping the backward class farmers. These agencies render 25 to 30 per cent
subsidy towards purchase of new milch animals in the case of small farmers,
marginal farmers and landless labourers.
Various banking agencies are also engaged in extending loans for
purchases of milch animals. State Bank of India has a special scheme of
loaning for purchase of milch animals under Government Guarantee. The
major objective of the finance policies of the banks was to introduce the
improved high yielding milch animals in the region. The loans were disbursed
to the dealers, sellers or the representative of the primary milk co-operatives. In
16

most of the cases the animals were purchased through the chairman or the
secretary of the dairy co-operatives.
Certain very important observation about the finance for the purchase of
milch animals in the region are summarised below1. Even though the loans were sanctioned for the purchase of high yielding
breeds of buffaloes such as Murrha, Jafarabadi and Mehsana, but the
farmers used to purchase the animals of local breeds in local weekly
market.
2. The majority of the milch animals were purchased in the local markets.
Thus the financing policies were not successful increasing the number of
milch animals in the region.
3. There is a growing tendency to avail the loan in cash and utilize it for
some other purpose.
4. In many cases the purchase of milch animals was fake.The banks have
recorded many cheating cases, without purchasing of the animals, only
the milch animals were exchanged.
5. The recovery of the loans becomes very difficult as the borrowers either
change the societies after availing loans.
6. Inspection and identification of milch animals is not possible.
7. Due to the above reasons the banks have difficulties in the recovery of
the loans and this has resulted in increasing the overdues. Most of the
banks have already stopped disbursing loans for this purpose.

5.12

MARKETING OF MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS:Milk, being a liquid and perishable product requires a strong marketing

infrastructure to collect the surpluses from producing areas and transport and
distribute the product in consuming areas. Therefore, simultaneous efforts to
encourage production and to arrange for marketing the surpluses are necessary.
This simultaneity of efforts took place in 1970, when an integrated programme
of dairy development coupled with organised marketing of milk, named as

17

Operation Flood- I was started in the country. It was designed to establish a

linkage between rural milk producers and urban consumers by replicating the
Anand Pattern of dairy co-operatives in the country. Indian Dairy Corporation
was established for implementation of the project. The major activities in the
second phase of these programme were organisation of village and district level
co-operatives of milk producers and setting up of processing capacities and
marketing facilities in rural milk sheds as well as in urban consuming Centers.
There is very little scope marketing of milk in the Sangli district except
Sangli and Miraj. Tasgaon, Vita as these urban areas themselves produce the
required quantity of milk. The milk vendors from the near by villages regularly
supply milk to these urban area. Sangli and Miraj city is the major market for
fluid milk and milk products. Milk is also made available to the urban
consumers but the quantity of milk is almost negligible as compared to total
urban demand. The dairies in Sangli city have collecting milk and making by
products in large scale and also selling the milk and milk products in sangli as
well as Miraj city.
The surplus milk in the region is converted into milk products such as
ghee, cream, milk powder, butter, shrikhand etc. The remaining quantity of
milk has processed by chilling and pasteurization and it is dispatched to
Bombay, Pune, Bengalore and Belgum.
5.13 PRODUCTION OF MILK PRODUCTS:Various milk products are the preparations made from milk to suit
human taste and for application in various arts and industries. A broad
classification of the milk products with short descriptions of their properties
and characteristics will be found interesting here. The main classes into which
milk products may be grouped are1) Cream
2) Butter
3) Ghee
4) Condensed Milk
18

5) Casein
6) Cheese
7) Milk Sugar
8) Milk Powder
9) Curd
10) Khoa / Khowa
1. Ghee :In India, Ghee is chiefly made from the milk of cows and buffaloes.
Ghee is obtained by melting butter and eliminating the traces of curd which
may stil remains in the body of the butter. Like butter, ghee is mainly of two
types, viz. cows and buffaloes and has got characteristic properties of their
own. Buffalo ghee is white while the cow ghee is just yellowish. The yield of
ghee from the butter of the buffalo is higher than from that of the cow. Ghee is
perhaps the most widely employed among the milk producte in daily diet of
Indians. There are 4 dairies making the production of ghee.
2. Butter:Butter is one of the most important products that have milk as their basic
ingredient. Butter is a wholesome diet as it contains from 8 to 10 per cent of the
soluble and volatile fatty acid group of fats where as other fats contain only 1
to 3 per cent. Butter is made from the milk of both cows and buffaloes.
3. Curd:In general it is known as Dahi. This is another preparation of milk and
is much esteemed in Indian homes for its delicious taste and beneficial action
on the digestive functions. Dahi prepared for sale is generally made from
buffalo milk because it gives a firmer texture and does not dreak up when cut
and sold in small lots. Dahi is also used in the preparation of fish curries and in
the making of whey. In the Sangli district, six dairies making 1185 kg/per day
curd production observed.

19

4. Khoa / khowa:Khoa is the vernacular name applied to milk thickened to semi solid
consistency by the evaporation of its water. For making khoa milk is heated
very slowly in a shallow thick boiling pan and as it is being heated it is stirred
constantly in order to prevent the formation of skin and also to accelerate the
evaporation of water. Khoa properly prepared is white in colour and has good
flavour. The flavour of the khoa depends upon the richness of the milk and the
care taken in preparing. For khoa manufacture, buffalo milk is largely in
demand, because cow milk not only makes yellowish khoa, but lakhs body and
texture. The outturn from cow milk is also less compared with that from
buffalo milk.
5. Milk Powder:Milk powder is made from cows milk to which sugar or salts may or
may not have been added and which has been evaporated to dryness either
under atmospheric pressure or in vacuo. It is indispensable in making tea at off
times when fresh milk is not available. In the Sangli district, there are two milk
industries making the milk powder in which Government dairy, Miraj has
ranked first as 1000 tons per day making milk powder.

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