Dairy Business: Ranjit Singh started several dairy schemes in association with PDFA, built the country’s first Fully Automated Dairy Farm
Farmers can take training of dairy farming from here, just pay once and take training for life
What would be the definition of a prosperous farmer in your mind? A farmer who is selflessly engaged on the path of making farming easier for his fellow farmers. One such farmer is Ranjit Singh, a resident of Langiana village in Moga district of Punjab. Ranjit Singh, who once started animal husbandry with 20 cows, has 300 cows today. The special thing is that only two people run this dairy farm together. In a special conversation with Kisan of India, Ranjit Singh told many things related to Dairy Farming Business, which you hardly know.
Ranjit Singh entered the dairy business in 1998. His love for animals inspired Ranjit Singh to join the animal husbandry sector. There were no commercial dairy farms at that time. People used to do animal husbandry outside the house or in some corner of the house. In such a period, Ranjit Singh decided to adopt animal husbandry as a dairy business. He learned the tricks of farming and animal husbandry watching his father.
Initial investment five and a half lakh rupees
He already had some cows and buffaloes at his house. Ranjit Singh says that buffalo gives milk for 5 months after giving birth. After that she does not give milk. The cow gives milk for the whole year. So he sold the buffaloes and brought cows in their place. He bought 20 cross bred cows from himself by investing five and a half lakh rupees. Build sheds in the open for cows. After this, in 1999, bought a milking machine for about one lakh rupees.
As of today there are 300 pure HF cows
Ranjit Singh says that when he was graduating, he wanted to go to America, but luck had some other plans. Today his Gurukripa dairy farm has around 300 pure HF cows (Holstein Friesian, HF Cows). His farm is also a breeder’s farm. That is, they themselves prepare the breed of cows, do not buy animals from outside. Ranjit Singh said that since 2006, he imports semen from USA to prepare the breed. His farm is built in an area of 5 acres.
4000 litres of milk is produced daily
The farm produces more than 4000 litres of milk daily. An HF Cow gives an average of 30 to 32 litres of milk per day. Ranjit Singh said that he has a target to take milk production to 5000 litres per day by 2022. Dairy milk is sold at the rate of Rs 40 per litre. They sell milk directly to Verka, the flagship brand of Milkfed, a cooperative organization of the Punjab government.
How much does the maintenance of an HF Cow cost?
A heifer (Female Calf) becomes an adult in two years, that is, it becomes fertile. In these two years, the cost of its maintenance ranges from one lakh to one lakh 20 thousand rupees. Ranjit Singh says that after costing so much to prepare a cow, it is sold for one and a half to 2 lakh rupees.
People used to come to the farm to see the milk machine
Further Ranjit Singh tells that when he started the dairy farm, he used to live in the village Sandhanoli of Patiala district. At that time there was no milk dispenser in the entire district. People used to come to the farm with great interest to see the machine. By 2003, the number of milch animals in his dairy farm increased from 20 to 55. Ranjit Singh told that the farm was not very big at that time. Tried to buy land up to one acre nearby, but it did not work. But it is said that where there is a will, there is true passion, there is hard work, there is a path. Then Ranjit Singh shifted to Langiana village of Moga district after selling his land in village Sandhanoli in 2006. Here he bought land and engaged in furthering his dairy business on a large scale.
Big responsibility found in PDFA
Ranjit Singh joined Progressive Dairy Farmers Association, PDFA in 1997 as a member. Impressed by his continuous efforts in the dairy sector, PDFA elected him as an executive member of the seven-member core committee in 2007. Today he is working as Joint Secretary of PDFA.
PDFA works for the development of the dairy sector and the farmers associated with this business. Ranjit Singh used to participate in seminars and meetings organized by PDFA in Ludhiana. There farmers were given information about the dairy sector by experts. It was during that time that Ranjit Singh thought of taking his dairy business to a big level and did it.
PDFA is a non-profit organization that works for the development of dairy farmers. PDFA was established in 1972 in collaboration with Punjab Agricultural University. PDFA organizes many national and international programs to encourage dairy farmers from training. Dairy business training is imparted to the farmers in the office of PDFA located in Ludhiana.
Know what is the White Card Scheme related to Dairy Business
Ranjit Singh also became the District President of PDFA Patiala in 2003. Ranjit Singh says that this was the period when PDFA brought many schemes for dairy farmers. PDFA has tied up with several banks. One of these schemes is the White Card Scheme. Under this scheme, financial aid is given to the farmers at a low interest rate. After the training of dairy business by PDFA, a letter is sent to the bank on behalf of the institute. The bank then provides financial assistance to that farmer. The bank gives full financial assistance of 100% on the market value of the land. PDFA guarantees it. Ranjit Singh explains that if the market value of one acre is 20 lakhs rupees, then the bank gives full assistance of 20 lakhs rupees.
Ranjit Singh says that there was a time when people used to follow the agent to go to America. Today, he has traveled to more than 30 countries, thanks to dairy business. Ranjit Singh says that today’s youth are competing to leave the country and get jobs abroad. They advise that you can do good business here in the country. Dairy business has immense potential.
How did the International Dairy and Agri Expo start in India?
Ranjit Singh further added that PDFA started working on breeding extensively from 2007 onwards. Started importing semen from outside by taking license from the government. Dairy shows started. Dairy Expo started from 2007 itself. International Dairy and Agriculture Expo was launched with an aim to promote dairy farming among farmers.
Ranjit Singh told that the President of PDFA, Diljit Singh had gone to America to see the show of World Dairy Expo. During that time he saw that a farm organization there, in collaboration with the government, organizes this show. When Diljit Singh came back to India, he mentioned this in the seminar. All the farmers and members of PDFA present there agreed in one voice to do such a show in India also.
Ranjit Singh told that PDFA did not have the budget at that time. Hardly 30 to 40 thousand rupees were with the institute. Then the members of the committee gave one lakh rupees each on their behalf. After this he went to the Farmer’s Commission. Met with Dr. GS Kalkat, then Chairman of Punjab State Farmers Commission. Funding of Rs 10 lakh was also done by the commission. This is how the first show started. Several stalls were set up in the show. Farmers brought their cattle to the show. Many competitions were organized. This encouraged the farmers.
Under the guidance of his father, business was taken to new heights
Meanwhile, Ranjit Singh took his business forward by taking a loan. By 2010 the number of cattle reached from 55 to 100. At that time 10 labourers worked in the farm to maintain 100 cattle. Ranjit Singh told that one day suddenly everyone left the labour farm. Now the problem was how to nurture so many cows together. There came a time that he had thought of selling about 60 cows. During that time his father bluntly told him that don’t look back, go ahead and do this business on a big scale. Then he went to Europe. There he visited four to five dairy farms. He met a couple who alone takes care of about 250 cattle. Ranjit Singh told that labour is very expensive in European countries, that is why people do not keep labour there.
Country’s First Fully Automated Dairy Farm
After returning to India, he adopted the Europe model in his dairy. He demolished the old shed and build new sheds. Cattle Feed TMR Machine (Total Mix Ration Machine), Milking Parlour Machine for milking, European Cow Cubicle Mat, Summer Cooling Fan, Bulk Milk Cooler like many modern machines were installed. At that time, he set up a modern dairy farm with an investment of about three crores. He took a loan for this investment.
Ranjit Singh says that in 2012 his dairy farm became the country’s first fully automated dairy farm. If a cow is sick, then a mail or message comes in the phone. It gives information about which cow is sick, what is the disease, etc. Every cow has a special strap attached to its neck. This strap acts like a sensor. This makes it easy to track the movement of each animal in the herd. In this way, treatment can be given to the cattle in time.
Ranjit Singh says that he took training from the Regional Demonstration & Training Center of Milkfed in Jalandhar before starting the farm. From here he learned about the nuances of advanced methods of treating and breeding cattle. If a cow is sick in his farm, he himself treats it. Vaccinations are also done from time to time. In today’s time, Ranjit Singh earns a profit of around one crore a year from his dairy farm.
‘Machine era’ ushered in the dairy sector
Ranjit Singh got the machines designed for his farm prepared in the country, which he had ordered from other countries. He shows the designs of machines to a vendor. In today’s time, the foreign machine which costs 20 lakh, the same machine is made available to the farmers for 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh. He worked on designing machines since 2012. Today these machines go all over India. Ranjit Singh says that he had to buy machines for his farm from outside, but the farmer did not have enough money to spend that much. For this, he got the imported machine made indigenously designed and made available to the farmers at concessional rates.
He has built about 100 Automated Dairy Farms across the country. Ranjit Singh told that he gives free consultancy i.e. advice to the farmers about setting up a dairy farm to its operation. The money for machine purchase also goes directly to the vendors. Their aim is to facilitate dairy farming for the farmers.
About 32 thousand farmers are associated with PDFA
At present, about 32 thousand farmers are associated with PDFA as members. PDFA acquired Progressive Dairy Solutions Ltd. in 2012. PDS also formed a company. Ranjit Singh said that this firm has been created by the farmers, with the money of the farmers, for the farmers. Through this, many things including animal feed are made available to the farmers at low rates. Ranjit Singh explains that the advanced diet containing minerals, vitamins given to cattle is imported from abroad. Ranjeet Singh said that the products that multi-national companies sell at Rs 700 to Rs 800 per kg are provided to the farmers through PDS for about Rs 400.
Also Read: Lumpy Skin Disease: How to protect milch animals? Know from Veterinary Specialist Dr. Rajpal Diwakar
Punjab Holstein Friesian (PHF) to be called HF Cows
Ranjit Singh informed that the work of breeding the cross breed of Holstein Frisian (HF Cows) in Punjab was done by PDFA Institute. In today’s time, the cows of Punjab give up to 70 litres of milk per day. People from other states come to Punjab to get cows. Ranjit Singh said that PDFA is soon going to register HF Cows as PHF Cows (Punjab Holstein Friesian), because Punjab has worked on its breeding.
How to take Dairy Farming Training from PDFA?
For this, you will have to become a member of PDFA and go to the office located in Ludhiana. Any farmer from across the country can take training from here. Lifetime Membership Fees is 1000 rupees i.e. you have to pay this fee only once. After this you can take lifelong dairy farming training from PDFA. Seminars are organized every month. Dairy experts come from all over the country and abroad. At the same time, the active members of the institute, who promote other farmers, are also trained at the international level. In a year, a group of 30 to 40 farmers go to other countries for training.
Contact us: If farmers want to share information or experiences related to farming with us, then they can do this by calling us on the phone number 9599273766 or by writing an email to kisanofindia.mail@gmail.com or by sending your recording. Through Kisan of India, we will convey your message to the people, because we believe that if the farmers are advanced then the country is happy.