04/22/2021
Swayam Shikshan Prayog - SSP Lakshmi Milk Collection Centre Model has identified milk production potential of intervention villages and created livelihood opportunities for women entrepreneurs and farming households
Several women farmers used to sell cow and buffalo milk to local milkmen who had a blanket pricing irrespective of the quality. If the farmers wanted to earn a bit more they had to travel to the nearest large dairy, which meant spending on transportation.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog in partnership with Promethean Power Systems Private Limited have set up 30 village-level Milk Collection Centres in Osmanabad and Latur districts of Maharashtra, intending to increase the income of the farmers, by measuring the quality and ensuring the farmers get right prices for the milk they sell.
To execute this, Lakshmi's - village level women entrepreneurs have been trained to operate the centres, with access to services and by establishing linkages to high-quality cattle feed and veterinary doctors.
As a result, the income from milk has doubled for farmers – around INR 38- 40 per litre of Cow Milk and INR 50-52 per litre of Buffalo Milk depending on the quality parameters. Additionally, women entrepreneurs from the village running the collection centres earn INR 0.75 per litre of milk securing an income of INR 5,000 to 10,000 per month.
“Earlier I used to get INR 35 per litre for my buffalo milk. After I have started to sell it in the Lakshmi Milk Collection Centre I receive INR 50 to 52 per litre”, shares Sushma Kadam from Chincholi village of Osmanabad.
This week, a new Laxmi Milk Collection Centre was inaugurated at Limbala village in Latur district of Maharashtra to create livelihood opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
