Background:

Patna was one of the mil identified under Operation Flood 1 (OF-1) for implementation of the programme. A hundred thousand litres per day capacity Feeder Balancing Dairy (FBD) and 100 MT per day capacity Cattle Feed Plant (CFP) were set up under this programme. A cooperation known as Bihar State Dairy Cooperation was formed in the year 1972 for speedy and effective implementation of the Operation Flood Programme in the state. The dairy cooperation was to develop the dairy cooperatives both at the village level and milk shed level on Anand Pattern and it was expected that the milk shed level cooperative would tae over the entire infrastructure created in due course. The cooperation positioned a multidisciplinary Procurement & Inputs wing in 1975 after the recruitment and training. A Spear Head Team (SHT) was deputed from National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) from the same year for helping the cooperation in organising and developing the cooperatives. Though the progress in the initial years was encouraging, the programme, for obvious reasons could not achieve the goals for which it was established. Subsequently, the State Government felt it worthwhile to request the DAIRY BOARD (NDDB) took over the management basis. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) took over the management of the infrastructure with effect from 1 st October,1981 under the banner of Patna Dairy Project (PDP).

Progress of Patna Dairy Project:

The NDDB immediately after taking over the project positioned an integrated Spear Head Team to restructure the milk procurement activities and also streamlining the working of the FBD and CFP). Under the management of NDDB the project had not only made excellent progress but had been able to establish the fact that the cooperatives could function equally well in Bihar too and what is essential is the proper atmosphere and guidance. Alongwith the organization of milk procurement activities and management of both the plants on commercial lines, NDDB took special care to develop the Vaishal Patliputra Dugdh Utpadak Sahkari Sangh Ltd. (VPDUSS), the milk shed level Cooperatives for taking over the project once the DAIRYBOARD withdraws its management. NDDB handed over the arrangements of Patna Dairy Project (PDP) to Vaishal Patliputra Dugdh Utpadak Sahkari sangh Ltd (VPDUSS) with effect from 1st July , 1988. The major tasks before the Vaishal Patliputra Dugdh Utpadak sahkari Sangh Ltd. Was to see that the excellent infrastructure developed by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) is not only maintained but also to see that the pace of development is not able to accomplish these tasks to a greater extent.

Present status Milk procurement :

There are at present 1621 nos of functional Dairy Cooperative societies (DCS) in the areas of PDP covering the districts of Patna, Vaishali, Nalanda, Saran & Shekhpura with a total membership of 112504. The daily average procurement has reached up to 221391 litres during the year 2010-2011. It is hoped that the project shall collect above one & half lakh litres of milk per day in commencing year. There are 206 nos of Women Cooperative Societies exclusively managed and run by rural women folk. While thw Union has a fairy good number of functional societies, emphasis is being given to consolidate the functioning of the primary societies by increasing the members participations. The graphs showing the no of functional societies, no of members, yearly daily average milk procurement and daily average lean months procurement. The cooperative Development Programme was also initiated from March, 1991 with the assistance of NDDB.

Technical Inputs:
The Union, is addition to providing a ready and stable market for the rurally produced milk at the door-step has been providing the inputs required for milk production enhancement. Artificial Insemination (AI) with Frozen Semen, Veterinary First Aid (VFA), vaccination, supply of balanced feed, paddy straw/wheat bhusa with Urea, supply of Urea Molasses

Block (UMB) etc on no profit no loss basis. The response from the milk producers for all these inputs has been exceedingly encouraging and the Union is in the process of extending these facilities to more and more societies and farmers.

Feeder Balancing Dairy:

The Feeder Balancing Dairy with a capacity to handle 1.5 lakhs litres per day (LLPD), has facilities for the manufacture of milk powder, butter, ghee, ice cream, peda, paneer and Plain/Misti Dahi, Lassi Matha. The production and the marketing of Table Butter under the brand name SUDHA was introduced from 1st October,1993 and the response has been encouraging. The marketing of Sudha brand of ice-cream in Patna after test marketing in August- September, 1994, was formally launched from April, 1995. The initial response has been satisfactory. Efforts are on to increase the market share of Sudha ice-cream. The marketing of Sudha brand Plain/Misti Dahi in Patna was started in Oct-Nov,2001 and was formally launched from Nov.2001. The initial response for this product too has been overwhelming. The production of Sudha brand Lassi in Patna was started in April-May-2003, the product of matha started in March-2007 and Mango Lassi & Mango Dahi started in march-10.

Cattle Feed Plant:

The role of balanced feed is not only increasing milk production but also sustaining the same by ensuring regular conception need not be over emphasized. Realising the same the Union has been making consistent efforts for popularising the consumption of balanced feed by the milk producers. In addition to catering to the needs of the Dairy Cooperative Societies cattle feed is sold through dealers in rest of the state the importance of introduction of latest technologies in this field, the production and sale of By Pass Protein feed was started from the started from the year 1989-90. The response for this feed too is encouraging.

Milk Marketing:
The marketing of liquid milk in sachets was introduced from the year 1981 itself. However, initially the thrust was for organizing the milk procurement activities and to stabilize the same at reasonable level. Nevertheless there was some natural growth in the milk marketing over the years. However, for various reasons there was some stagnation for few years in the quantity of milk marketed. With certain modifications in the policy decisions and because of concerted efforts. The Dairy Plant Management Programme (DPM) was introduced in the year followed by Quality Assurance Programme (DPM) was introduced in the year 1992 followed by Ouality Assurance Programme (QAP) in the year 1993 with the help of NDDB> this resulted in bringing about a positive change leading to viability of the project coupled with lowering if operational costs on one

hand and improved quality of products on the other. Consequent to the liberalization and globalization of Indian ecocnomy in early 90s it was felt standards. Accordingly, it was felt that the organization should strive to make its total outlook, approach and systems of highest ISO certification both in quality management system and food safety. This process was successfully completed leading to ISO-9001;2000 and HACCP (IS-15000)

The project has been honoured with Best Productivity Performance Award for the four years 2000-2001, 2001-2002, 2005-2006, & 2006-2007 by National Productivity Council, New Delhi. The Chamber Commerce Association of Patna has honoured VPMU (Patna Dairy) by providing Vanijyakar Ratna/ Bhamashah Samman in the month of January 2010. This is a rare honour by any of the dairies iin India.

Thrust Areas:
1. To make sudha Brand a market leader by making Sudha Milk and Milk products a consumers delight and ensuring that esteemed customers get value of money. 2. Consolidation of the DCSs already organized leading to increas milk procurement. 3. Further improvement in the involvement/participation f members in their Cooperatives. 4. Bridging the flush-lean gap further.

5. Popularizing all the Input Programme. 6. Increasing the throughputs and sale of both milk and milk products as well as cattle feed, ByPass protein Feed & UMB

7. Reducing further the handling losses and increasing the utilization of plant capacities. 8. Optimizing the utilization of all the consumables.

9. Human Resource Development through training, orientation etc to the employees at all levels for ensuring better motivation and involvement leading to all round progress of the organization.