List out the problems faced in milk procurement.

Problems in Milk Procurement: In order to make plants financially viable and sustainable, the
procurement system has to be such that the plant runs efficiently. The principal problems in milk
procurement which have a direct bearing on capacity utilization and operational efficiency are well
recognized. The major problems listed below demand managerial skills to ensure adequate milk supplies
to dairy plants, throughout the year:
 Perishable nature of commodity, improper cleaning of milking vessels, hind quarters of
animals, udder of the animal and the barn.
 Commitment for lifting small surpluses of milk from thousands of farmers.
 Wide fluctuations in milk output based on seasons.
 Procurement of milk from both members and non-members of the co-operative societies.
problem of payment of price and sharing of inputs.
 Lack of infrastructural facilities like cooling at village level, unreliable electricity supply, non-
availability of spare parts of machinery. These factors may affect 2-5% of milk received.
 Poorly developed roads and transportation systems cause undue delay in milk procurement
 Cost of chilling and transportation is high.
 Procurement problems are more specific to hilly regions, drought prone areas, tribal areas,
forest, etc.
 Quality of raw milk; chemical and microbiological hazards; cleaning of milking utensils and
sanitation of milking areas are to be efficiently managed.
 Problem of adulterants, neutralizers, preservatives, pesticides, antibiotics and other additives in
raw milk.
 Unhealthy competition among vendors, contractors, co-operative milk unions and other
agencies engaged in milk procurement; administrative demarcation of zones under MMPO for
each plant is of no practical help.