Milk being distributed from a dairy farm in Rukka, Ranchi, by KGVK

Ranchi, Jan. 14: There’s a milky way to rural prosperity, says a Ranchi-based NGO.

To increase milk production in the tribal heartland, Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra (KGVK), which aims at rural uplift, has decided to initiate an ambitious project based on what it calls the public-private-people’s partnership or P-4.

The P-4 concept involves maximum participation of people at the grassroots with corporate and government efforts to increase dairy yield and generate income.

Milk was chosen due to a huge gap between demand — 1.6 lakh litres a day in Ranchi — and supply — 60,000 litres.

KGVK officials have selected families who can increase earnings from milk production without migrating from their homes.

Currently, KGVK has started its milk collection centre at Kuchu village in Ormanjhi block with around 200 litres per day. The NGO has also started its milk parlours at Purulia Road, Booty More and Ranchi Gymkhana Club. In its initial phase, the project is running in Ranchi district. Districts like Lohardaga, Gumla and Sahebganj will follow suit.

KGVK manager Ashish Anand told The Telegraph that structured and scientific milk production would be lucrative for rural households, due to its high demand in Ranchi.

“In the initial phase, we are covering Ranchi district and will increase our ambit gradually. We want people at the grassroots to participate in enhancing their economic condition through dairy development,” he said.

As part of its initial phase, KGVK imparted a weeklong training to 76 farmers on feeding, breeding, induction and retirement management — with stress on adulteration and standardised milk production — spread across Ormanjhi, Bundu and Patratu blocks. Farmers from across 12 villages participated in the training.

KGVK has also decided to get a bulk milk cooler machine which enhances the life of milk for 48 hours so that farmers can store and sell it without incurring loss.

An automatic milk collector — which checks adulteration and bacterial count through a computerised system — will be installed at Rukka village in Ormanjhi block.

For holistic dairy development, Anand said they were planning to appoint 50 paramedics, so that if farmers face problems, informed help would be at hand.

Linking villagers with banks for loans and informing villagers about government subsidies such as the two-cow and five-cow scheme are also part of KGVK’s initiative, he said.