Guwahati: Sitajakhala Dugdha Utpadak Samabai Samiti Limited, the only milk producers' co-operative society in central Assam, launched a packaged pastuerised cow's milk, Gonand, here on Tuesday.

Sitajakhala is located between Jagiroad and Nagaon where the Gorkha or Nepali- origin people started living and raising cattle prior to Independence.

After Independence, the demand for milk rose and to cater to the market of Guwahati city, the community started to organise and joined hands to form the co-operative society.

Now SDUSSL produces 15,000 litres of milk a day and most of it is sold in the city.

The packaged milk has been introduced to compete against the proliferation of Amul pouch milk in the city. There is another brand, Purabi.

"This is the first locally produced branded milk product and we have named it Gonand ( go means cow and Nand refers to little Krishna). Our milk is free of any additives. It comes directly from the farmers and is pasteurised at the Kollong Kopili plant of the state government. There is no extraction of any product from the milk. It is not 'toned', or 'homogenised or 'standardised'. We have started out by producing 2,000 packets per day or 1,000 litres. We will gradually ramp up production at our new plant," said chairman of the society Ranjib Sharma.

The pouches, priced at Rs 27 each for 500ml, will be available at five outlets at Beltola Tiniali, Survey, near Dispur, Zoo road and Chenikuthi.