Punjab Minister allays fears on milk supply, assures it will be uninterrupted

March 20, 2020

Chandigarh, March 20: Punjab Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa today said that the supply of milk would continue uninterruptedly across the state and advised the people not to get panicky in wake of COVID-19.

While the consumer services being provided by Milkfed’s Verka brand, the Minister also pointed out that proper hygiene as per the instructions of Health Department were being followed meticulously during packaging and supply of milk.

He said that Milkfed was fully prepared to tackle any sort of exigency arising out of COVID-19. He also assured that Milkfed would increase sufficient and uninterrupted supply of fresh milk in pouch and in addition to this abundant supply of UHT long shelf-life milk besides skimmed milk and milk powder will be made available at Verka outlets/milk bars and retail shops for consumers.

He also made an appeal to the people not to get panic since Milkfed as of today is processing 16 % more milk as compared to March last year. The Minister states states that Milkfed had made elaborate arrangements to ensure safe and nutritious milk and milk products to the consumers and there will be no disruption in supply of milk in coming days.

Meanwhile, Chairman Milkfed Capt Harminder Singh said that Milkfed is taking all precautionary measures to ensure production of safe and nutritious milk and milk products through its state-of-art dairies during the pandemic of COVID-19.

The workforce of Milkfed is fully sensitized and all preventive measures are being taken as per the guidelines issued by WHO, Union and State Government. All the preventive measures are being taken for supply of milk in the market in duly sterilized milk trays and ensuring proper sanitation in the complete supply chain.

Chairman has assured that there will not be any disruption in procurement of milk from the Dairy Farmers and their payments. The production facilities in the Milk Plants will be carried on for uninterrupted supply to the consumers. Highest quality and hygiene is being ensured at all operations run by Verka.

MD Milkfed Mr. K.S. Sangha said that Milkfed is presently supplying approx. 12 LLPD milk in Punjab and neighboring states in polyfilm pouches, apart from pasteurized pouch milk, Milkfed also has a range of long self life UHT milk with self life of 100 to 180 days.

Being long shelf-life product, UHT milk can be used by consumers in case of non-availability of fresh milk and any emergency. Keeping in view our seamless milk procurement and delivery network, there is absolutely no likelihood of any shortage of milk and milk products in Punjab and neighboring states in coming days.

Apart from this all the Verka milk bars, milk booths & retail points are being stocked with Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP) and Whole Milk Powder (WMP). Mr. Sangha said that 20 MT milk powder has already been dispatched in the market and 150 MT more milk powder which is equivalent to 15,00,000 litres of milk will be placed in its supply chain with in next 7 days.

The Punjab State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd. (Milkfed) is a farmers’cooperative, marketing Verka brand of milk and milk products in Punjab and neighboring states through its network of retailers, dealers and distributors.