Official clarifies

IMPHAL, May 26 : Managing Director of Manipur Milk Producers' Cooperative Union (MMPCU) Dr Ng Ibotombi has refuted the claim that he didn't come to the union's office in the last four years.
A meeting of MMPCU participated by its Chairman, Managing Director, Board of Directors and other members was convened today at Central Dairy Plant at Porompat, today.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Dr Ibotombi continued that a cashless transaction for milk procured from dairy farmers and other members of Cooperative Society was launched in his tenure  and the same is done twice a month.
"It's true that there were some problems in the transaction in the last few months due to bank holiday and internet related matters among others," he admitted.
Maintaining that the Central Dairy Plant was set up by MMU, he said that the union pasteurised or fortified the milk bought from the Co-operative society before being sold at the market. Dr Ibotombi further said that the demand of milk is far greater than the supply in Manipur.
He stated that machines to produce dairy products such as curd, cream  etc have been brought to Manipur and it will start working once the engineers assemble the same.
Meanwhile, one young dairy farmer, on the condition of anonymity, said that MMU bought milk from them after checking the quality. Saying that the quality of the milk depends on the content of fat and non-solid fat, the farmer said that MMU offered Rs 41 for a kilo of milk if it contains 3.50 per cent of fat and 8.50 per cent of non solid fat.
"Many dairy farmers will be disheartened if they couldn't produce milk which has adequate fat and non solid fat content," he claimed  that they couldn't produce good quality milk due to price hike of fodder and lack of skills.
He then urged the authorities concerned to increase the price of milk in the interest of dairy farmers.