Milk warms the hearths of this Tiruchi village

An all-women milk producers’ cooperative in Inam Mathur has empowered many

On a blindingly sunny day in Inam Mathur in Manikandam block, with the backdrop of mooing cattle and barking dogs, 10 women gather around to talk about their experience of running a milk producers’ cooperative that has helped them become financially independent since 2007.

“Before we formed the cooperative society, we used to sell our milk to vendors for ₹7 per litre. As a group that supplies to Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (Aavin), we are able to get up to ₹32 per litre today,” S. Valarmathi, treasurer, told The Hindu.

Starting out under the mentorship of SHEPHERD social outreach programme of St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchi, the cooperative’s formal name is TRD. 1688 Inam Mathur Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union.

From an initial intake of 72 women members, the number has come down to 50, as private milk vendors have diverted many of the suppliers. “Cattle owners who were content to receive ₹10,000-₹20,000 as advance, and around ₹24 per litre have gone away from the union. But we got around this by applying for loans to increase our livestock numbers,” says Ms. Valarmathi.

This village of around 320 families has at least two native breed milch cows per household, and approximately 100 animals are milked for the union. Its daily supply to Aavin varies from 65 litres in the hot season, to 250 litres in the cooler months.

The women’s group, whose members range in age from 25 to 57 years, faces an unusual challenge: lack of skilled milkers. “Only 10 of our old members still milk their cows themselves twice daily. The others have to wait for the milkman. Women who cannot milk their cows prefer private buyers because they take care of that task,” she said.

Since the union doesn’t have an official premises, members deliver their milk to the house of Jaya, the president, from 6.30 a.m. to 7 a.m, and 5.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day. The person in charge of collection uses a lactometer to check the density of milk in relation to water. “We get readings of around 27-30 on the meter (indicating a normal density of around 1.024 to 1.037 g/l). Nobody can get away with adding water,” says Ms. Jaya.