Milk transportation in Village
Milk transportation in villages typically involves a multi-stage process that combines traditional methods for short distances with more modern, organized logistics for bulk transport to processing centre
Stage 1: From Farm to Village Collection Centre
Individual farmers, who typically own only a few animals, transport small quantities of milk to a local Village Collection centre (VCC). This stage primarily involves traditional, cost-effective methods over short distances:
Head-load/Shoulder Sling : Used for very small amounts (up to 40 liter) over short distances, especially in hilly areas or where roads are undeveloped.
Bicycles and Motorcycles : Common methods for moderate quantities (40-100 kg) and slightly longer distances, as they are easily accessible and quicker than walking.
Animal Carts (Bullock/Horse) : Utilized for larger quantities (200-400 kg) in areas without proper road access.
Boats : Used in riverine areas where water transport is necessary to cross rivers.
Stage 2: From Collection Center to Processing Plant/Chilling Center
At the VCC, milk from various farmers is collected, weighed, and tested for quality. It is then consolidated for onward transport to a chilling center or a main dairy processing plant.
Milk Cans : For lower volumes (up to 3,000 liters per vehicle), milk is transported in 40-50 liter aluminum or stainless steel cans loaded onto trucks or lorries.
Insulated/Refrigerated Tankers : For large quantities (2,000 to over 10,000 liters) and long distances, specialized road milk tankers are used. These are insulated to prevent the temperature from rising by more than 1-1.5°C over a journey of up to 12 hours, preserving the milk quality.
Key Factors and Challenges
Timeliness : Due to milk's perishable nature, transport from farm to a chilling or processing facility must ideally be completed within four hours of milking to prevent spoilage, especially in warm climates.
Hygiene : Maintaining hygiene in collection containers and transport vehicles is crucial to avoid bacterial growth and contamination.
Infrastructure Gaps: Many rural areas face challenges such as poor road conditions, lack of reliable electricity, and insufficient cold chain infrastructure (chilling centre ), which can lead to milk wastage.
Technology Integration : Modern solutions like in-can chillers at the collection centre , GPS tracking, and mobile apps for data recording are being introduced to improve efficiency, quality control, and transparency in the supply chain.
