Vijayawada: AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched AP-Amul Paala Velluva scheme for women, revive the co-operative dairy movement in the state. There is a dream to see the women empowered and the government lending a helping hand through Aasara and Cheyutha programmes by creating stable and recurring income assets, said YS Jagan in his address in a video conference to all stake holders on the occasion.

He also said that dream has come true today, in the form of AP and Amul partnership. The project’s first phase commenced in 400 villages of three districts Prakasam, Kadapa and Chittoor; it will be extended to 9,899 villages across the state in a phased manner. Bulk milk cooling units and automated milk collection centres will be set up with a total investment of Rs 3,000 crore.

Recalling an incident during his Padayatra when some dairy farmers showed him a mineral water bottle with a price tag of Rs 21 to explain to him that the cost of a litre of milk is in the same range, he said, “They asked how they are supposed to survive when the remuneration from dairy farming is this. I assured them that the dairy cooperative sector will be revived, and today that promise in the manifesto has been fulfilled.” Stating that the entry of Amul in Andhra Pradesh will let the dairy farmers earn Rs 5-7 more for per litre of milk, he said it will force private companies to respond and revise their procurement price. It will create more competition in the market, he added.