Mehsana: Daily milk production of Banas Dairy and Dudhsagar Dairy increased by 7 lakh litres and 2.50 lakh litres respectively as public of rural areas in North Gujarat is switching to cattle keeping as an alternative occupation due to the adverse effects of Covid-19 pandemic on other sectors and businesses.

The average daily milk income of Dudhsagar Dairy of Mehsana and Banas Dairy of Banaskantha is 78 lakh litre. Milk from the milk-producers of Chansma, Harij, Patan, Siddhpur of Patan District goes to Dudhsagar Dairy and milk from the Radhanpur and Santalpur taluka goes to Banas Dairy. Around 10.66 Lakh milk-producers from 3050 villages of the three districts Mehsana, Patan and Banaskantha are associated with cattle keeping business. Total 1400 congregations and 1800 villages are associated with Banas Dairy and 1503 congregations and 1250 villages are associated with Dudhsagar Dairy.

In 2019, the average increase in the number of milk-producers associated with both the dairies was 5 thousand per year. This number has doubled in the last two years due to adverse impacts of the lockdown and Covid-19 pandemic on other sectors.

The number of Milch Cattles in Banaskantha was 17.50 lakh as per animal census of 2017 which has now increased to 22 lakh. 1201053 milch Cattles were registered in Dudhsagar dairy in 2021. DeshGujarat