Milk Federations

As mentioned earlier all the Unions in the state or contiguous districts form an apex body known as the Federation. The Federation, working under the Managing Directormarkets the products produced by various milk unions, supplies inputs and provides consultancy and supervises their activities. Federations at the level of the state is known as State Dairy Development Co-operative Federation, while at the national level, it is known as National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India (NCDFI).

i. National Co-operative Dairy Federation of India

The National Co-operative Dairy Federation of India (NCDFI) was registered in 1970. In June, 1985, the bye-laws of the NCDFI were substantially amended to limit its membership to federal dairy co-operatives of the States and union territories and the NDDB. The amended bye- laws vest with these members- to the extent that the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 1984, permits—the direction,management and control of the NCDFI. In December 1986, to gain locational advantage, the NCDFI shifted its headquarters from Delhi to Anand, the milk capital of India.

In December 1990 NCDFI included the co-operative oilseeds growers federations as its members. There are now 21 state co-operative milk producers federation apex unions and 7 oilseeds growers co-operative federations as the members of the NCDFI. These state federations comprise 170 district co-operative milk producers unions and 19 co-operative oilseeds growers’ regional unions. The primary level membership comprises about 74500 villages co-operative societies and 98 lakh farmers.

Presently, the NCDFI is performing and consolidating the activities initiated during 1984 to 1987. These are: members relations, establishing a common national platform for the dairy and oilseeds co-operatives and, functioning as a single window for the coordination of purchases and supplies activities of the national level institutions and members of the NCDFI. The NCDFI is also working to improve the quality of these services by evolving an organizational climate of professionalism and excellence.

The NCDFI is managing on turnkey basis, the movement of 142 broad gauge Rail Milk Tankers in different regions of the country. There are about 24 linkages that have been established over time for the movement of liquid milk from the surplus milksheds to the demand centers. Further-more, the NCDFI has undertaken a series of measures - including a comprehensive agreement with the railways - to ensure improved turn around time and efficient utilization of the fleet.

The focus of the NCDFI is to facilitate - through co-operation and networking - a shift from:

the restrictive and repressive co-operative laws in the country to the creation of an enabling legal environment where co-operatives can thrive and prosper.

•  State owned or supported co-operatives to member-owned and controlled self reliant co-operatives.
•  Political and state interference in the affairs of the co-operatives to the management of the co-operatives through enlightened membership
•  Unnecessary interference in the day-to-day functioning of the co-operative by its board of directors to the evolution of true partnership and accountability between the board and a professional chief executive officer who enjoys the autonomy and power to fulfill organizational objectives.
•  a policy of having chief executive officers on loan or deputation from government or other organizations to having a professional chief executive, who is a permanent employee of the co-operative and is specifically appointed by and
• accountable to the board of the co-operative.
•  a policy of having a system of common cadre of senior officials who keep shunting between the federation and its constituent unions to the policy of having mutually exclusive and independent full time permanent employees in the unions and the federation.
•  a policy where quality and excellence were viewed as a luxury policy to the policy where quality and excellence are pre-requisites for the organizations to succeed in the market place.

ii. Main Functions

National Cooperative Dairy Federation

•  Develop inter Dairy Cooperative relationship
•  Research, Publication and Consultancy on Dairying
•  Liaison with NDDB, Government of India, etc.

State Cooperative Dairy Federations

•  Production programming
•  Marketing of milk products
•  Coordinating bulk purchases
•  Assist the Unions in input programmes
•  Training, consultancy etc.

District Cooperative Milk Producers Union

•  Organisation and supervision of primary cooperative societies
•  Collect milk from primaries for processing and manufacturing milk products
•  Ensure regular payment to DCS
•  Marketing liquid milk in their area of operation
•  Distribution of cattle feed
•  Provide technical inputs
•  Extension activities
•  Arrange training of staff, DCS personnel
•  Educate member farmers and farmer ladies

Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Society

•  Collection and sale of milk to milk unions
•  Ensure regular and remunerative payment to producers
•  Help members to increase milk production
•  Provide veterinary First Aid and Artificial Insemination services
•  Sale of cattle feed