News Analysis |
Pakistan’s first automated dispenser unit is going to launch to the public next month for the provision of pure and cheap milk under the aegis of the Punjab government, Punjab Livestock & Dairy Development Board (PLDDB) CEO Saira Iftikhar revealed on 24th April in Lahore.
While addressing the members of Agriculture Journalists Association, PLDDB CEO Saira Iftikhar said that this new technological advancement (in Pakistan) the automated milk dispenser unit had been manufactured in locally at a cost of Rs 0.6 million.
Until now, successful launching of four production sites across Punjab has been done under the agenda of the board, Hafiz told journalists.
The idea behind the introduction of this machine is to encourage dairy farmers to sell their milk with this vending machine to uphold certain health standards and to regularize local milk industry. Currently, the milk industry is under heavy fire for hazardous product, hygiene issues and monopoly.
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Elaborating the milk vending machine project, Miss Iftikhar told journalists that around 2,000 litres milk was being produced from the ‘Sahiwal’ cow breed at Khizerabad Farms near Sargodha and would be sold through the automated dispenser unit at a bazaar in Township area at Rs 75 per litre.
Consumers can themselves watch the procedure of automatic packaging of the milk after paying the amount. The purity of milk will be ensured with sealed packing, she informed, adding that this healthier milk is extracted from cows that have been bred and reared at green pastures with seasonal fodders along with corn silage and other healthful minerals without any impurity or harmful substances like aflatoxin fed to them.
Further, the PLDDB CEO said that this nutritive whole milk is labeled as A2 type, which makes it more digestible, nourishing and healthier than other cows’ milk available in the market, with four percent fats and 3.60 percent protein it is the ideal milk for all, enriched with calcium, vitamin D, phosphorous, protein, potassium and healthy fats.
There are no additives included in this milk, she claimed. The whole idea of launching this milk is to show dairy farmers a successful business venture for them as well as consumers’ benefits, she observed.
The purity of milk will be ensured with sealed packing, she informed, adding that this healthier milk is extracted from cows that have been bred and reared at green pastures with seasonal fodders along with corn silage.
She recalled that a similar automated milk project was conceived in late 2011 by the PLDDB on the direction of Punjab chief minister, but it was stopped before its launch due to administrative issues. Now keeping in view the national usurp on milk, Saira Iftikhar said the board has revived the project and wanted to launch across the province after piloting as directed by the board of directors.
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In the last week of april, this vending machine has been scheduled for the soft launch while in the first week of May, it is expected to be launched on the ground.
PLDDB project executive Hafiz Wasi is also supervising the procedure on bridging demand supply gap of fodder. “We are facing acute shortage of green fodder as only 51 million tonnes of fodder was available against its demand of 200 million tonnes,” he said, adding that silage is the best solution to provide healthy and nutrient feed to animals during short supply of green fodder. Until now, successful launching of four production sites across Punjab has been done under the agenda of the board, Hafiz told journalists.