BENEFITS OF MILK PRODUCERS’ CO-OPERATIVE SYSTEM IN DAIRY PRODUCTION BANGLADESH EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Co—operative system is being recognized as an effective and proven way to dairy
development in Bangladesh by generating rural employment and income. Development of primary milk producers’ co-operative first began through a private dairy farm at Pabna district in 1947 as Eastem Milk societies. These primary societies have taken under govemment co-operative scheme in I965 and renamed as Bangladesh Milk Producer’s Co-operatives Union Limited. The trade name is MILK VITA which began marketing of milk and milk products besides the cattle development program. The results of the impact studies done by Bangladesh
Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), to understand the benefits of co-operative systems, in dairy development in Bangladesh are discussed here. MILK VITA is an organization, which make t.he linkage between the producers and consumers. This linkage ensures the technical and marketing facilities to both the groups in different ways. The benefits obtained: (i) dairy cattle development; through improved breeding program, ensure cattle feed, community forage production and introduce high yielding forage, (ii) health care and management; low cost and easy available service through routine mobile veterinary clinic headed by Veterinary Professional, (m) getting ensure market of their products which prevents the exploitation of middlemen. Furthermore, the co-operative linkages offer the problems associated with dairy development in grass-root levels, which permits a.n interrelation between the producers-researchers and extension workers involving in dairying of Bangladesh.