Mumbai, Mar 25,2015 – Gujarat-based milk giant Amul is all set to launch camel milk in Ahmedabad by this year end. With cow or buffalo milk which is considered to be the prime source of nutrient, camel milk is likely to enter and gain mass appeal —- thanks to its much appreciated health benefits and salty taste.
“We are yet to receive a nod from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and we are hopeful to receive it within three months,” stated R S Sodhi, managing director, GCMMF, while speaking to FnB News over telephone.
He added that GCMMF (Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd) was planning to process and commercialise camel milk under its brand in small plastic bottles in Ahmedabad initially, as it had low shelf-life.
He informed that the state government had already sanctioned around Rs 70-80 lakh grant to set up the country’s first plant for camel milk in Kutch adding that GCMMF was planning to carry the processing, packaging and commercialising of the milk later in Ahmedbad.
“We are yet to decide on the pricing aspect, it totally depends upon the demand and market supply,” stated Sodhi.
Interestingly, Kutch District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Ltd would be associated with the production at the plant. According to Valamji R Humbai, chairman, Kutch District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Ltd, Sarhad Dairy, the camel milk plant will be a boon to many camel breeders as currently they are facing immense problems. One of the key problems is the reduction in the population of the camels and the breeders have no means to channelise the milk procurement. The current camel population in Kutch is only 12,000-13,000.
“We are planning to initially process 2,000-3,000 litre per day, in the unit to be set up and gradually increasing it to 10,000-12,000 litre per day, based on demand. This is expected to pave way to produce value-added camel milk products such as lassi, flavoured milk, and kulfi, at a later stage,” stated Humbai.
Humbai estimated that the initial price would be anywhere between Rs 100-150 per litre and stressed that pricing would be based on the camel milk fat as it weighs 25-30 per cent less as comparatively to milk fat of a cow or a buffalo.
He said that recently the Kutch District Co-operative Milk Producers Union had sent a revised proposal of Rs 2.50 lakh as the overall project cost to the government, after analysing and studying all aspects of the setting up of a unit. Further, he said that the union was even willing to pay subsidies to camel breeders.
Meanwhile, throwing more light on the health and beneficial properties of camel milk, Dr Raghvendar Singh, principle scientist, National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC), explained, “Camel milk was particularly consumed to manage chronic diseases such as Type 1 diabetes, arthritis, and autism in children.”
Dr Singh in his concluding note said that recently the institute was engaged in various awareness campaigns to promote camel milk and its milk products through camel related activities in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
IGMPI
