NEDAC - New Delhi

The Pondicherry Co-op. Milk Producers’ Union Ltd. (hereinafter called Ponlait) had commenced its functioning from 07.02.1955 as Pondicherry Co-operative Milk Supply Society and was marketing the milk to the urban consumers only.

Ponlait is the first registered Co-operative Society under Pondicherry Co-operative Societies Act, 1972.

In view of processing the milk procured from the villages before delivering same to the urban consumers, a milk processing plant with 10,000 litres capacity was installed with the help of National Dairy Development Board in 1971.

The Pondicherry Co-operative Milk Society was converted as Pondicherry Co-op. Milk Producers’ Union Ltd. No.P.1 in 1973.

Ponlait had implemented the Operation Flood-I and Operation Flood-II Scheme of the National Dairy Development Board to disseminate the concept of co-operative movement in Dairy Sector by way of implementing a Co-operative Development Program, starting Amul pattern Milk Producers’ Co-operative Societies, establishing Modern Dairy Plant, implementing Women Co-op. Leadership Development Program, etc.

Amul pattern Milk Producers’ Co-operative Societies have been started across Puducherry and so far 106 Societies have been registered and of which, 98 Societies are functioning effectively including 19 Women Milk Producers’ Co-op. Societies.

There are about 41,221 Milk Producers who enrolled themselves as members in the societies functioning at village level, of which around 7,525 milk producers are in active participation at present.

The average milk procurement by Ponlait from the Milk Producers’ Co-op. Societies every day is 65,000 litres and the same is collected through 15 Bulk Milk Cooling Centers installed across Puducherry Region after subjecting the milk for instant chilling to maintain quality. About 40,000 litres per day additionally is out sourced from the neighboring states to meet the market demand.

Ponlait effects payment to the Milk Producers on fortnightly basis based on the quality of the milk supplied by them (For FAT 4.2%, SNF 8.3% milk the rate is Rs.34/- per litre which is Re.2/- more when compared with Tamil Nadu Milk Procurement Rate) w.e.f 30.08.2019.

Ponlait arrange to provide inputs like Feed & Fodder, Breeding and Animal Husbandry Services, Cattle Insurance, besides insuring the milk producers under Group Insurance Scheme. Ponlait produced compound Cattle Feed 0 MT during 2019-20 and sold to the members of Milk Producers’ Co-op. Societies at 75% subsidy rate.

The milk is transported through refrigerated tanker vehicle from the villages to the Dairy Plant and unloaded for processing after checking the quality.

The milk is pasteurized, homogenized and standardized at the Dairy Plant before it is packed, stored and delivered to the consumers as per the Food Standards.

As the milk procurement level had increased, the processing capacity of the Dairy had been increased to 30,000 LPD in 1985 and to 50,000 LPD in 1992 and it has been increased to 1.0 lakhs LPD in 2012. Hence, License was obtained from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India in 2012 for the milk processing capacity of 1.2 lakhs LPD002E

Ponlait also manufactures number of value added milk products like, Ghee, Curd, Flavoured Milk, Milk Peda, Ice-cream varieties, Paneer, Kulfi, Butter Milk, Sweet Lassi, Chocolate and so on to shine in the competitive market.

The processed / manufactured milk & milk products are stored at required temperature at Dairy and transported to sale points across Puducherry.

The milk and milk products are sold to the consumers around 200 Agents and through 70 Ponlait owned Parlours. For distribution, vehicles are engaged through Closed Tender System / e-Tender System.

On an average the liquid milk marketed by Ponlait in Puducherry is 1.0 lakhs litres per day which includes sale to the General Public, supply to Hospitals, Hostels, Educational Institutions, etc.

Ponlait is selling Toned Milk 13,000 litres per day (1 litre Rs.42.00) ,Special Toned Milk 80,000 litres per day (1 litre Rs.44.00) , Standardized Milk 5,000 litres per day (1 litre Rs.48.00) and Milk Products of good quality and standards at reasonable / lower prices than that of other brands in the market taking into accounts of the interest of the consumers of different income groups. Especially, the Toned Milk is sold at the rate of Rs.42/- litre and whereas it is sold at Rs.43 per litre in Aavin.

Ponlait is implementing the Puducherry Government Sponsored Scheme namely Sri Rajiv Gandhi Breakfast Scheme wherein hot milk is severed to the school children in all four Regions of Puducherry Union Territory. For this purpose around 4,000 litres of milk is supplied to schools.

Ponlait manufactures Amul Brand Ice-cream varieties on franchise basis since 2009 and agreement is executed for this purpose with the Gujarat Co-op. Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF). Initially Ponlait had started manufacturing and supplying Amul Brand Ice-creams of about 3,000 litres per day in 2009 and it has now increase to around 12,000 litres per day in April 2016.

The GCMMF has appreciated the Ponlait for the remarkable achievement of 48% growth rate and it is also planned to increase up to 50 thousand litres per day in the coming years to meet the requirements of Amul Brand Ice-creams. The growth rate has further increased to 52% in April 2016.

Ponlait is establishing an Automatic Stick Line Machine for manufacture of Amil Ice-candy, Chocobar, Kulfi in a large scale manner. Ponlait had sustained loss during the past years due to non-revision of milk selling price for long period and Ponlait has now recouped the accumulated loss of Rs.1.76 Crores. Th annual business turnover of Ponlait has reached Rs. 192 Crores during the financial year 2019 – 20.

Ponlait is always committed in delivering the goods and services to the consumers and it is endorsed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India by publishing the news in the Times of India Newspaper that the milk supplied by Ponlait is the purest milk from among the Co-operative Dairies through India in 2012.

Ponlait availed the financial assistance from the Co-operative Department, Govt. of Puducherry for Dairy expansion activities and for 75% Cattle Feed Subsidy Scheme to benefit the milk producers. Consequently, the milk production has increased considerably. Funds also availed through Centrally Sponsored Scheme of RKVY for infrastructure development, which are highly necessary for effective manufacturing / conduct of business.