Amul joins billion-dollar club

The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, (the marketing body of Amul) said on Friday it has touched Rs 4,277.84 crore (Rs 42.77 billion) in revenues in fiscal year 2006-07, thus becoming the first billion-dollar co-operative in India.

The federation has reported a jump of 13.4 per cent in terms of revenues at Rs 4,277.84 crore as compared to Rs 3,700 crore (Rs 37 billion) in the previous fiscal.

"This is an extremely impressive growth when viewed against the ban on exports of skimmed milk powder, and massive losses suffered by farmers due to floods during the last monsoon season, especially in Surat,"Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Chairman Parthibhai G Bhatol said.

Explaining the performances of different GCMMF products during the year, Bhatol said: "The sales of Amul milk in pouches have grown by 40

per cent in terms of value.

Similarly, sales of ghee in Amul and Sagar brands have gone up by 28 per cent. Ultra high-temperature treated milk has also shown an impressive growth of 25 per cent and the sales in flavoured milk has increased by 55 per cent during the fiscal."

The total milk procurement by the member unions during 2006-06 averaged at 67.25 lakh Kgs per day, a growth of 4.5 per cent over 64.38 lakh Kgs per day in the previous fiscal.

This was done in spite of adverse weather conditions, Bhatol said.

GCMMF, apex marketing federation of 13 district milk unions of Gujarat, has a membership of 26 lakh milk producers. It is also the largest producer of pouched milk brand in the world.