A consultant to the European Commission, Wyn Richards, this week expressed satisfaction at the methodology adopted in India ‘for sensitizing the stakeholders on hygienic handling and distribution of unadulterated milk’ in Guwahati, the capital of the state of Assam.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is providing technical support to this project.

‘Milk though is a staple food and children as well as adults consume it, it has been among the most adulterated food items in the State. Its adulteration percentage was 21.07 in the period from 2000 to 2009 as per official records.

Richards told the Assam Tribune: ‘“The approach of the [Assam dairy] directorate is an innovative one as it has involved all the stakeholders right from the government to the milk vendors,” he said, adding that the problems of the consumers, producers, distributors and vendors would get resolved through the new model.’

‘“Earlier, the stakeholders like the producers, distributors and vendors could not get their problems heard. Now they have been provided a platform to voice their problems,” said Dr Richards, stressing that this model would ensure sustainability and profit for all.

‘The directorate has already held a few rounds of training for the milk vendors to sensitise them on hygienic handling of milk. Apart from adulteration, cleanliness is another aspect of the supply system which has been an issue of concern in the city.’

Read the whole news story in the Assam Tribune: Foreign expert hails State dairy sector, 21 February 2011.