Mysuru: The Mysore district milk producers’ co-operative Societies (MYMUL) is adopting advanced technology to ensure prolonged milk storage. The cooperative is set to establish a UHT (Ultra Heat Treatment Technology) unit at a cost of Rs 120 crores, with the goal of producing tetra packs for surplus milk collected by the union, even beyond regular sales. This innovative technology allows milk to be stored in tetra packs for up to 6 months, making it suitable for export to foreign countries.
The UHT unit, situated within the Mega Dairy premises of the Union, will have a capacity to process 2 lakh liters of milk daily. It will produce tetra packs ranging from 100g to two liters, incorporating technology that preserves the milk for an average of 6 months. This initiative is expected to eliminate the need to rely on other union units for tetra packing, thus saving costs associated with sending surplus milk elsewhere.
P.M. Prasanna, Chairman of MYMUL, stated, “This is a Rs 120 crore project, including civil and machinery installation. It will function as a processing plant, enabling the union to enter the international market.” The advanced technology adopted in the UHT unit is poised to enhance market opportunities for the union’s milk, expanding beyond local sales.
Over the past three years, milk storage under the union has seen a consistent 7% increase. Currently, MYMUL collects an average of 8.5 lakh liters of milk daily, with 3 lakh liters sold locally in packets, 60 thousand liters as yogurt, and an additional 40 thousand liters sent to Chennai. Despite processing 2 liters for distribution in schools under the Ksheerabhagya Yojana, a surplus of 2.5 lakh liters remains daily. The establishment of the UHT unit is a strategic move to find a market for this surplus milk, including expansion into foreign countries. The resulting revenue is expected to contribute to the union’s growth, and the products will bear the ‘Nandini’ brand. The milk powder produced by the union is already sought after by various industries, including biscuit factories, nutritive food companies, and chocolate and confectionery manufacturers.
