SUMUL Dairy in Surat to expand ice cream manufacturing unit

State BJP president C R Paatil Wednesday laid foundation stone of the expansion of the ice cream manufacturing unit of Sumul Dairy from producing 50,000 litres to 1 lakh litres daily, at the cost of Rs 125 crore, in Kamrej taluka of Surat district.

SUMUL Dairy is also setting up an ice cream cone making plant at Navi Pardi village in Kamrej taluka — the first in Gujarat with a daily production of 3 lakh cones.

Addressing the gathering, Paatil said, “The BJP has become an undefeated party due to the leadership and guidance of cooperative sector leaders like Bhikhubhai Patel (Surat Sahkari Sewa Sangh) and Raman Patel (Surat district Kharid Vechan sangh)… There are over 360 cooperative societies in Gujarat of which the BJP has captured 310 societies, till yesterday. We won with full majority without making coalition with the Congress.”

Chairman of Sumul Dairy Mansinh Patel said, “We have fulfilled the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to double the income of farmers. In 2013-14, the total income of dairy farmers was around Rs. 3.50 crore and now it has increased to Rs 7.50 crore. The amount gets directly deposited in the bank accounts of dairy farmers in Surat and Tapi.”

The state BJP chief said that farmers are “satisfied” with the compensation amount given for acquiring their their agricultural lands for the bullet train project.

“The farmers of Surat district got Rs 2,700 crore, while those from Navsari, Valsad and Bharuch also got crores of rupees. The farmers were paid Rs. 1.03 crore per bigah. A few areas are still left and it will be covered. The farmers of Surat and Navsari are satisfied with the amount they got and even they are ready to give more land. Even the Congress workers are also happy,” Paatil said.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation limited (GCMMF) R S Sodhi said, “In the milk sector, we are top in the world with production of 210 million metric tons and still we are progressing. Sumul Dairy collects 18 lakh litres of milk daily and gives good price to the dairy farmers. The main reason behind success in dairy farming is, it is linked to cooperative societies, which acts as a bridge between dairy farmers and the end customers…”