Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb. 5: Goat milk has seen growing demand in the country during recent years. The A&N Islands have an estimated goat population of 59,000, however, milking of goats for milk was not practiced. Goats can yield upto 2-3 litres of milk daily and the milk is highly nutritious, easily digestible, rich in minerals and considered to have medicinal values. Due to its unique composition, goat milk is used for making specialized cheese, yogurts and butter.
Goats are reared by small and marginal farmers including womenfolk for its low maintenance cost and mostly for meat purpose. The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS), Andaman & Nicobar Administration, has taken up the initiative to encourage the Goat farmers to form Cooperatives and sell Goat Milk as a source of regular income generation. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation Limited (ANIIDCO) has come forward to collect, process and sell the Goat Milk through its outlets as a Pilot Project.
The sale of pasteurized goat milk through ANIIDCO’s Milk Division was launched today in the presence of Dr. K.A.Naveen, Director (AH&VS), Shri. Mohammed Pervaiz, General Manager (Milk Plant), ANIIDCO, Shri. Basuki Nath Sah, Company Secretary-cum-General Manager (P&A), ANIIDCO, Dr. Sabitawati, SVO(AH), Dr. Inderjit Kaur (SVO, AHTI), Shri Rajendra Kumar, Sr. Manager (MP/CS), ANIIDCO, and other officials of the Departments.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. K. A. Naveen, Director, AH&VS, highlighted the growing awareness of the nutritional and medicinal benefits of goat milk, particularly for children, elderly persons, and lactose-intolerant individuals. He said that the initiative serves two purposes, availability of goat milk to the citizens and livelihood generation for the farmers while contributing to conservation of the Local Andaman Goat. He wished the project success with more Goat farmers contributing to the supply chain by forming livestock cooperative societies for assured procurement and better returns.
The fresh Andaman Goat Milk will be available in 200 ml bottles priced at Rs. 70/- at all ANIIDCO outlets: three Milk Parlours located near Khaitan Mandapam in Junglighat, Shadipur Junction, and Mohanpura Bus Terminus, and two Milk Carts at Bathubasti and Marina Park.