Sudha Dairy has set up 600 booths in Ballia, while Parag Dairy owes crores of rupees to farmers and employees.
Lavkush Singh, Jagran, Ballia. Ballia Milk Union, which once procured 16 thousand liters of milk every day, is today fighting for its survival. Due to the apathy of the authorities and continuous non-payment, the Ballia unit of Parag Dairy has been closed from June 1, 2025. Whereas till the year 2022, about 25 vehicles were sent by Parag Dairy on every route of the district for milk collection.
This was convenient for cattle herders. Now the situation is such that 308 milk producer cooperative societies run by Parag Dairy have also been closed. In such a situation, about 15 thousand cattle rearers from the border areas are giving 60 thousand liters of milk daily to Sudha Dairy of Bihar. Sudha Dairy has expanded its industry to Ballia including Mau and Ghazipur.
There are 600 booths set up for milk collection in Ballia alone. Bairia tehsil area supervisor Roshan Yadav said that plants have also been established by Sudha Dairy in Maniyar, Bairia and Chilkahar. Parag Dairy has not even been able to pay Rs 56 lakh to the cattle farmers from December 2024 to May 2025.
Dairy has also been owing Rs 98 thousand to the District Hospital and Rs 60 lakh to the Milk Union Gorakhpur for a long time. Salaries of about Rs 70 lakh are outstanding for the employees associated with the Milk Union. There used to be a queue of cattle herders from the morning at the Parag Dairy plant located in Jeerabasti, now there is complete silence there.
He said that currently the cattle rearers provide milk to the dairies of Bihar. There is no other arrangement. Bihar's dairy also takes care of the pushkeepers. From time to time, the dairy farmers are also honored. -Ranjan Yadav, Bahuara, Bairia. -Gives milk in dairy of Bihar. The money is paid in 10 days. However, not all cattle farmers provide milk to dairies. Some sell milk through sweet shopkeepers and even in the city. -Anil Yadav, Semaria, Bairia.
About Rs 16 lakh has been received here to pay the dues of cattle herders. Letters have also been sent to Milk Union Gorakhpur several times but they are not paying. After the dues of the cattle farmers are paid, the dairy will be established again in the old style.
Dr. AK Sharma, Unit Incharge, Azamgarh Milk Producers Cooperative Union Limited, Extension Area Mau-Ballia.