INTRODUCTION
Milk Vita a trade name for dairy products manufactured by the Bangladesh Milk Producers Co-operative Union Limited(BMPCUL).
Estabilished under the co-operative fold, the organization,popularly known as Milk Vita, makes necessary efforts to fulfill the demand for milk and milk products of city dwellers by collecting milk from remote places of the country.The great architect of independence,the genuine friend of the peasant- worker,the voice of the working people,the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,soon after independence,the development of the fate of the working people,the fair value of the farmers produced by the farmers and the milk of their own production field for the supply of hygienic milk in the city`s consumer category.Milk vita has 40-50% market share of liquid milk in Bangladesh as of 2021.
OBJECTIVES OF MILK VITA:
- Raising subsidiary income of poor,landless and marginal farmer living in relatively remote areas of the country by way of purchasing their produced milk at reasonable price through a guaranteed market under the co-operative fold.
Ensuring the regular supply of safe, hyhienic and nutritious milk and milk products to city dwellers at a reasonable price.
THE JOURNEY:
In 1946, the dairy traders brought machinery to establish a milk factory, called National Nutrition Company, in Lahiri Mohanpur of Sirajganj as the dairy farmers in Pabna and Sirajganj areas were not getting fair prices.
However, the initiative to establish the factory was completely stopped due to the partition of India in 1947.
Later, in 1948, one Mukhlesur Rahman took ownership of the factory and changed its name to East Milk Products. Installation work of the factory was completed in 1952.
Dairy products like milk, ghee and butter were produced at the factory and marketed in Kolkata city for a while.
In 1966, an initiative was taken to bring forth a cooperative-based primary milk producers association to the organisation and it was named East Milk Producers Co-Operative Union Limited.
In 1968, the Cooperative Marketing Society took responsibility for the factory as the cooperative management system was not initially fruitful.
However, due to financial bankruptcy, another organisation of bottled milk production and marketing company, named Ashtai Dairy, based in Tejgaon, Dhaka took responsibility.
But in 1970, due to a lack of proper management and financial support, the production and marketing activities of both factories were stopped.
After the independence in 1971, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took the initiative to run the milk factories based on the model of Amul, which is an Indian state government-owned dairy-based cooperative society officially named the Gujarat Milk Marketing Federation.
In 1973, a development project named Cooperative Dairy Scheme was taken up in a new area after paying off the debts of the two closed-down factories of the Cooperative Marketing Society.
Under the new initiative, factories were set up in five different dairy regions of the country with the help of a government loan of Tk 13.12 crore to increase milk production by protecting the interests of dairy farmers.
In 1977, the name of the project was officially changed to Bangladesh Milk Producers Cooperative Union Limited (Milk Vita).
Since the establishment of the first milk pasteurisation factory in Baghabari in 1973, the cooperative has set up 43 milk cooling plants in different districts of the country.
FINANCING:
1. *Establishment and Initial Funding (1973-1974)*: – Milk Vita was established in 1973 under the Bangladesh Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited. – The initial funding came from the government of Bangladesh and international agencies, notably the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
2. *Development Phase (1974-1980s)*: – During the 1970s and 1980s, Milk Vita received substantial support from the Bangladesh government and international organizations. – The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) played a significant role in providing technical and financial help to modernize Milk Vita’s operations.
3. *Expansion and Modernization (1990s)*: – In the 1990s, Milk Vita expanded its production capacity and distribution network. – Funding during this period came from internal revenue, government subsidies, and further international assistance, including from agencies like the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
4. *Privatization and Market Competition (2000s)*: – The early 2000s saw increased competition in the dairy sector in Bangladesh. – Milk Vita faced challenges due to the entry of private dairy companies, leading to a need for strategic funding to maintain market share and modernize infrastructure. – Funding sources included government support, cooperative members’ contributions, and loans.
5. *Recent Developments (2010s – Present)*: – In recent years, Milk Vita gives focused on improving quality control, expanding its product range, and enhancing distribution channels. – The cooperative has continued to receive government support and has also sought partnerships with private sector entities to bolster its financial stability and operational efficiency. Throughout its history, Milk Vita has relied on a mix of government funding, international aid, cooperative member contributions, and revenue generation from its operations. This multifaceted funding strategy has enabled it to remain a key player in Bangladesh’s dairy industry.
SERVICES PROVIDED BY BMPCUL (MILK VITA)
- Cattle development and management training.
- Cattle treatment.
- Co-operative management.
- Balanced cattle feed supply services.
- Vaccination.
- Green grass cutting and seeds of grass.
- Artificial insemination. Higher milk prices at the farmer level.
- Guaranteed market of milk.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF DAIRY PRODUCTS OF MILK VITA:23 types of dairy products of Milk Vita are in market.
- OVER VIEW OF MILK VITA:
- Name of the organization:Bangladesh Milk Producer`s Co- operative Union Limited.
- Brand Name:Milk Vita.
- Total land :99.40 acre.
- Total number of plants:36.
- Present employees:1117.
- Primary society:1836.
- Member society:79081.
- Milk shed areas:Tangail,Manikganj, Tekerhat, Baghabari Ghat, Rangpur,Sreenagar,Faridpur.
- Operation areas:
- Division :7
- District :23
- Up-Zilla :132
- Union:490
- Village:2125
UNIQUE STRATEGY:
Milk Vita is one of the prominents dairy co-operative in Bangladesh,known for its role in the country`s dairy sector.
SUCCESS STORY:
According to the Department of Cooperatives,Milk Vita alone collected 3.93 crore liters milk in YF22 from farmers and dairy farms across the country,4.50 crore liters in YF21, 4.32 crore liters in YF2019-20,4.69 crore liters in YF 2018-19 and 4.68 crore liters in FY2017-18.
- Milk Vita chairman Lipu said,”We are supplying milk and dairy products to the market through a well-oiled management from collecting and supplying milk to the market to ensuring quality products.
FUTURE PLAN OF MILK VITA:
- Expantion of the current handling capacity or the existing plants.
- Estabilishment of a number of chilling plants.
- Acquisition of Bethan (pasture) land from the government for permanent use as grazing land by the Milk producer farmers.
- Completion of the Establishment of UHT treated milk plants.
- Establishment of Can Making plant.
- Establishment of the Mineral Water Bottling Manufactured plant.
- Estabilishment of a cattle feed plant.
- Spread of the project in other areas of the country,especially in the divisional headquarters,such as Chittagong,Khulna, and Rajshahi.
- Establishment of a cattle disease diagnostic laboratory.
CHALLENGES ARE FACED BY MILK VITA:
- It has many competitors such as Pran, Farm Fresh, Arong etc.
- A lack of retailors who can work face to face with the customers to generate enough awareness.
- Future competition from already established market participation.
- A slum in the economy that could has a negative effect on peoples spending of discretionary income on these products.
CONCLUSION:
Milk Vita is the largest milk producing company in Bangladesh.It is helping about 7.55 lakh beneficiaries through its overall activities including operational, marketing ,financial activities. Nowadays, many big and small dairy farms have been established with the help of Government,NGO`s and personal willing. So’ in Bangladesh the milk production is increasing progressly. Milk Vita still remains as the most productive dairy farm in Bangladesh.