Introduction
Milk is often known as “White Gold,” it is not just a tasty addition to our morning coffee or cereal – it’s a lifeline for many rural communities.
In villages and remote areas, Milk Collection plays an important role in the livelihoods of countless families. It’s more than just a glass of milk; it’s a source of income, nutrition, and community support. It provides a steady income to farmers, allowing them to sustain their families and invest in their farms. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 150 million rural households are engaged in milk production globally.
Further, according to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 80% of the world’s milk production comes from smallholder farmers, many of whom reside in rural areas.
However, the process of collecting and handling milk in rural areas has always remained a challenge. The conventional methods employed in these areas are time-consuming and inefficient, leading to quality issues that affect both farmers and consumers. Every year in India, millions of liters of milk are spoiled due to inefficient collection and transportation methods.
In the current system of milk collection, milk is typically collected from farmers in cans and transported twice a day to processing plants or the nearest chilling centers. This system is vulnerable to spoilage, especially in the hot Indian climate. Additionally, the cost of transportation is high, which reduces the profits of farmers and milk processors.
This blog aims to throw light on a transformative approach that promises to improve both efficiency and quality in village milk collection. We will explore innovative solutions and technologies that are changing the game for dairy farmers and collection centers.
This new perspective of milk procurement offers several benefits, including:
- Reduced transportation costs
- Improved milk quality
- Increased farmer income
- Reduced environmental impact
By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how these new hacks in the village milk collection are making a positive difference, empowering rural communities, and ensuring better dairy products for consumers. You’ll learn how these advancements are not only streamlining the process but also enhancing the overall quality of the milk.
If you’re a dairy farmer, a milk collector, or simply someone who cares about the quality of the milk you consume, this blog is your guide to unlocking the potential of improved efficiency and quality in village milk collection. Let’s take this journey of transformation together.
The Current State of Village Milk Collection
Village Milk Collection is the backbone of the dairy industry. Milk is collected from rural villages and farms and is then transported to the nearest milk chilling center or milk processing plant, whichever is suitable. In the present scenario, individual farmers poured their milk into their respective VLCC (Village Level Milk Collection Center). The milk collection vehicle goes around a particular route assigned to them and collects milk from all VLCCs in that route which is then handed over to the MCC (Milk Chilling Center). Many such routes are connected to MCC which is called a Cluster. The milk is chilled, stored, and further transported to the Milk Processing Plant.
While it may sound simple, this age-old process comes with a set of challenges that affect both efficiency and the quality of the milk we enjoy.
Challenges in Milk Collection
Inefficient Process
Most village milk collection systems today rely on traditional, manual methods. Milk is collected in open containers and transported over varying distances, often in unfavorable weather conditions. This can result in spillage, spoilage, and contamination.
Lack of Colling Facilities
The average milk collection in a village is about 150 – 200 liters per day which makes it unviable to install Bulk Milk Coolers to chill and store milk. Further many villages produce both cow and buffalo milk and milk processors emphasize collecting them separately which is not possible in the case of VLCC with One Bulk Milk Cooler. Thus, Milk Processor prefers to collect milk in Cans. This on the other hand increases the primary milk transport cost as the milk collection van must cover each route twice a day.
Quality Control Issues
The quality of milk is a crucial concern. Without proper storage and transportation, milk can get contaminated, leading to bacterial growth and reduced shelf life. Farmers often struggle to maintain hygiene standards during collection and storage.
Unequal Access
Many villages lack access to modern milk collection centers. This means that farmers must travel long distances to reach the nearest collection centers, often on bumpy, unpaved roads. This not only wastes time but can also lead to milk spoilage due to the lengthy journeys.
Inaccurate Records
Keeping track of the quantity and quality of milk collected is essential for both farmers and dairy companies. However, maintaining accurate records in a paper-based system can be challenging, leading to disputes and mistrust.
Inefficiencies and Quality Issues
Loss of Milk
Inefficiencies in the collection process often lead to milk spoilage and waste. Milk that is not collected promptly or stored improperly can go to waste, hurting both the farmer’s income and the overall supply of fresh milk.
Quality Degradation
Milk quality can deteriorate due to poor handling, storage, and transportation. Contaminants such as dirt, bacteria, and even insects can compromise the quality and safety of milk. This not only affects the taste but can also pose health risks to consumers.
Inconsistent Quality
In the absence of standardized collection and storage practices, the quality of milk can vary from day to day. This inconsistency makes it challenging for dairy processors to maintain a reliable supply of high-quality milk.
Overall milk processing finds it difficult to build adequate infrastructure at each village milk collection center. In some cases, 03-04 villages are clubbed together and a Bulk Milk Cooler of higher capacity is installed to collect milk from these 03-04 adjacent village collection centers. Although this allows milk to chill after it reaches the BMC center and reduces the primary transportation cost, chances of spoilage of milk are not eliminated as milk reaches the BMC center almost after 04 hours of milking and then it takes another 03 hours to cool down to 04 degrees C.
Significance of Addressing These Problems
Improving the efficiency and quality of village milk collection is not just about convenience; it’s a matter of livelihood, health, and sustainability. Here’s why addressing these challenges is of utmost importance.
Economic Sustainability
Improving the efficiency of milk collection ensures that farmers receive fair compensation for their hard work. It stabilizes their income and helps them to plan for their future.
Food Safety
Quality control measures reduce the risk of contamination, making milk safer for consumption. This, in turn, improves public health and reduces the burden on healthcare systems.
Environmental Impact
Modernizing collection processes and reducing transportation distances can significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with milk production.
Data-Driven Decisions
Digital records and data collection help in making informed decisions, ensuring transparency and building trust between farmers and dairy companies.
Rural Development
Enhancing milk collection processes can create employment opportunities in rural areas, thus contributing to overall rural development.
The current state of village milk collection faces numerous challenges, from inefficiencies to quality issues. Addressing these problems is not only vital for the dairy industry but also for the economic well-being of farmers, food safety, and sustainable development. In the following sections, we’ll explore a solution that can address these issues improving efficiency and quality.
Technology Integration
In today’s fast-paced world technology integration is playing a vital role in milk collection in rural villages. Technology integration has brought a remarkable change to the milk collection. In this section, we will discuss how it is making a difference.
Modernizing Milk Collection
Earlier milk collection was a manual process in villages. It was time-consuming as testing of milk was done using Garber’s method and data for each milk was recorded manually in a milk collection register. There was a possibility of error in the data. The chances of manipulating the data were there as generally the test was conducted after the milk collection was over in the absence of the farmer.
Now use of Milk Analyzer gives instant results as soon as milk is received at the center. The farmer can see the result immediately. Integration of technology now enables push SMS or even upload the data to Farmers App enabling farmers to keep track of their milk quality and quantity.
IoT Devices
IoT stands for the Internet of Things where everyday objects are connected to the internet and each other. Sensors and devices placed on milk cans and storage tanks can monitor temperature, and quality, and even detect any contaminants. If the milk is not stored at the right temperature or if there’s any sign of spoilage, these IoT devices can send alerts. This ensures that only high-quality milk is collected and processed.
Further, the person sitting at the central dairy becomes aware of the quantity of milk collected at various centers and the tentative arrival of this milk at the dairy dock. This enables him to plan and schedule the production process.
Digital Tools and Apps
With the use of digital tools, the process of milk collection has become streamlined and error-free. Farmers and collection agents now utilize user-friendly apps on smartphones or tablets to record crucial data. These apps not only make data entry more accessible but also ensure that the information is stored securely and is readily accessible for analysis. These devices when connected to a Dairy processor make their life easy on preparing milk bills in time. The data collected helps the dairy processor to analyze the entire collection process and take necessary steps to make it more productive and efficient.
Mobile applications play a crucial role in connecting farmers with collection centers. These apps serve as a bridge, facilitating seamless communication and real-time updates. Farmers can receive important information about milk quality standards, market prices, and collection schedules right at their fingertips. This not only empowers the farmers with knowledge but also ensures that the milk collected meets the required standards.
The Power of Automation
The major benefit of automation is,
- Brings forth automated milk collection systems that simplify the entire workflow.
- Saves precious time and reduces the need for extensive manual labor.
- Speeds up the collection process and ensures accurate data recording.
- Plays a crucial role in enhancing quality control measures.
- Enables farmer empowerment, even those with limited technical expertise.
- Eliminates repetitive tasks with precision and consistency, thus ensuring fair compensation for farmer’s efforts.
In conclusion, technology integration in village milk collection is all about making the process more efficient, transparent, and reliable. It empowers farmers with tools to manage their dairy operations effectively, while also helping collection centers maintain high standards of milk quality. So, while the heart of this change is still the fresh milk from the village, it’s the technology that’s making the whole system fresher and better.
Understanding the New Hack
Now we have understood the existing challenges in village milk collection. In this section, we will discuss innovative solutions, more specifically a groundbreaking method that will bring a wave of positive change to traditional practices. This solution aims to streamline the entire process, ensuring that both farmers and dairy processors reap the benefits.
Introduction to the Innovative Solution
The new method employs technology to create a more organized and effective milk collection system. Instead of the conventional manual recording and measurement, this approach utilizes digital tools and data analytics in combination with the recently developed Thermal Can Chiller with Thermal Backup which enables milk chilling at source thus retaining the quality of milk and bringing down the spoilage to zero.
Benefits of Can Chiller with Thermal Backup
- Low Capital Investment
- Less Connected Load
- No disruption in the traditional Can Collection system
- Segregation of Cow & Buffalo Mik
- Segregation of Morning & Evening Milk
- Better Traceability
- Higher Capacity Utilization
- Low infrastructure cost
- Chilling done nearer to the source retains quality.
- No spoilage and prevent bacteria growth.
- Compliance with regulation
- Simple installation & easy operation.
- Thermal Backup eliminates the use of DG Set
- Cans are cleaned at Dairy to ensure proper cleaning.
- Can be integrated with Solar System.
- Enables decentralized milk chilling.
- No trained manpower is required.
How the System Works
The system consists of FOUR major components.
- Condensing Unit
- Insulated Box
- Therma Storage System
- Control System
When power is available, the Condensing unit operates the refrigeration system, and the cold energy produced is stored in the Thermal Storage System. Normally it takes 04 -05 hours to charge the Thermal Storage system fully which can cool up to 240 liters of milk to 4 Deg C within three hours. For chilling milk, SS or Aluminum cans filled with milk are kept inside the Insulated Box where the cold water from the Thermal Storage System flows on the top of the Can Cover and glides along the wall of the can cooler forming a thin film of cold water. This film of cold water carries away the heat from the milk and passes to Thermal Storage. The cold water flows in a continuous loop for a specific period to bring down the milk temperature to below 04 degrees C. Further, the control panel enables to circulate of the cold water in a preset cyclic mode to maintain the temperature of milk in the can until the cans are lifted by the dairy. The control panel is designed to handle most of the operations automatically, the operator needs to operate only one ON/OFF switch after putting the milk-filled cans inside the insulated box.
The Complete Collection Center
Each Milk collection center adopting this method will have the listed equipment below.
- Milk Analyzer
- Ultrasonic Stirrer
- Thermal Printer / Mobile Apps
- Can Chiller with Thermal Backup
- Voltage Stabilizer
With all this equipment in place, the milk collection increased efficiency with a better farmer experience. Accuracy in data collection also facilitates better decision-making for both farmers and milk collection centers. The consumers gain confidence in the quality of the milk they purchase which builds trust in the entire supply chain.
Implementation and Adoption
The implementation and adoption of any methodologies are important for achieving efficiency and success. This often requires careful planning and effective communication. Also, the organization needs to be flexible and adaptable, allowing for adjustments based on feedback and changing circumstances. In this blog section, we will discuss some general steps and considerations for implementing and adopting this new method of village-level milk collection.
Cluster Selection
A cluster refers to a group of milk collection centers in a specified geographical area that come together to collectively organize and streamline the process of milk collection, storage, and transportation for a specific dairy. Ideally, the cluster should cover 35 – 40 villages with existing milk collection centers. These clusters are aimed to improve the efficiency of milk collection from small-scale dairy farmers in a specific geographic area.
Aggregation Center
An aggregation center is the place where milk collected from one cluster arrives once a day. This center has the facility to handle around 5000 to 7000 liters of milk. The milk collected from the village collection center will be tested, chilled, and stored at this center till lifted by the Road Milk Tanker. The aggregation center should be in such a place that the last milk collection village is not more than 50 to 60 km and milk collection vehicle travel time should be less than 1.5 hrs.
Route Optimization
Once the above two are finalized, it becomes crucial to find an optimized milk collection route to cover all the villages in that cluster with minimum travel time and distance. There may be 03 to 04 such routes. It is important to see that each route collects milk up to the maximum capacity of the vehicle sent to collect the milk. Milk has to be lifted once a day from the milk collection centers.
Infrastructure Development
Identify a suitable room of 10 ft x 10 ft at each village collection center. Get the power connection and earthing. Procure equipment for all Milk collection centers. The list of major equipment is given below for reference.
- Automatic Milk Collection Units (AMCU)
- Milk Can Chiller with Thermal Back Up
- Miscellaneous Items
Similarly, infrastructure with necessary cooling and other equipment needs to be procured for the aggregation center too. Installation and commissioning and necessary certificates and permission had to be done before the start of the milk collection.
Training and Support
Training and necessary support are to be provided to all stakeholders on guidance on best practices for dairy farming, milk handling, and other aspects that contribute to improved milk quality.
Data Monitoring & Feedback
Data on milk collection both for volume and quality, transportation cost, and other parameters as required to make the project profitable must be monitored and analyzed and further action plans are to be made for maximizing the efficiency and quality.
Run the milk collection centers in the specific cluster for a few months. Once the process is settled and starts working smoothly the same model now can be replicated in other clusters.
The implementation and adoption of a new method at the village-level milk collection center is always challenging. With proper mindset and meticulous planning will increase efficiency and economic benefits with a brighter and more sustainable future for the rural dairy sector.
Conclusion
This method of milk collection has been adopted in several villages and has shown remarkable success stories. In a cluster where this system has been implemented, the time required for milk collection has been reduced significantly. Farmers are experiencing smoother and faster processes, allowing them to focus more on their core activities.
The accurate data collection enabled farmers to get better prices based on the quality of their milk, providing a direct financial benefit to the farmers. Farmers struggling with loss of money due to spoilage have witnessed a transformation. This also enables dairy to improve cattle nutrition and health, route optimization, flexible milk lifting time, and reduction in chilling center load resulting in a noticeable enhancement in the overall quality as well as quantity of milk produced.
There are many success stories. The farmers in this area have seen a notable increase in their income after the implementation of the project. These successful examples highlight the transformative impact of the new method on village milk collection, setting the stage for a more efficient and quality-focused dairy industry.
The adoption of innovative solutions in the dairy industry will bring a new perspective to the whole industry.