Milk Chilling Plant at Martur
From End Of Poverty
Rearing cattle has been the most successful income generation activity in rural villages especially among the women. This has proven as one of the viable projects for women as they could bring the required fodder from their labour work in the agriculture fields and the amount of milk sales comes to their hands directly. Hence, it has acted as a major tool for women empowerment in Andhra Pradesh, especially in the coastal districts and more so in Prakasam, where it has proven the milk produced in this district has a greater fat content compared to others.
Milk chilling Plant
At this juncture, ASSIST ventured into the establishment of a cooperative milk chilling plant with the external and local bank support in Martur to cater the needs of 1,687 women members, who are involved in cattle rearing. Though the required site was made available by ASSIST and building cost was supported by UMMI-Italy and Sonnenhaus-Germany. The required machinery and equipment was acquired on loan from State Bank of India, Chilakaluripet. Due to the large loan component, it is taking much longer time than visualised to achieve break-even of this unit. As a result, ASSIST is backing this unit with its support to cover the interest portion payable to the State Bank of India timely.
Fodder Production Units:
Another activity executed under this intervention is to extend the support to the local women to raise the fodder production for effective cattle rearing. In the open land around the Chilling Plant, the fodder was raised to supply to the members of the cooperative society. Accordingly, fodder was developed in 3 acres of the land around the chilling plant in Martur.
