Demand for DDC products increases in Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) general convention

Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The sale and distribution of Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) products like mahi, curd and ice cream has attracted special attention at the venue of the ongoing first general convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Chitwan.

Various dairy cooperatives and dairies have been selling Mohi, curd, flavour milk, ice cream and other products of DDC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the government, as well as various dairy cooperatives and dairies in collaboration with DDC and District Milk Producers’ Cooperative Association Limited.

Various dairy cooperatives and dairies have been selling their products at the stall jointly organized by DDC and Chitwan District Milk Producers’ Cooperative Association Limited. Sanjeev Yadav, a technician at DDC, said that the demand for honey is especially high due to the hot weather.

According to him, it is also used as a ‘drinking yogurt’ which helps to provide coolness and hydration to the body. Similarly, the attraction of consumers towards saffron-based flavored milk has also increased.

In the initial days of the convention, the sales had increased drastically and now the average daily turnover is more than one lakh rupees. Keeping in mind the demand of the consumers, the corporation has provided products at discounted prices with service oriented spirit.

For example, mustard and saffron milk are being sold at Rs 60 and Lalmohan Peda at Rs 310 for Rs 290 in the market.

Yadav said, “Chitwan is a hot area and there is a high demand for Mohi. Flavors and saffron milk are also being sold significantly. On the first day, the sale was very high and even now the business is more than one lakh rupees daily. ’

According to him, additional dairy products are being imported from nearby projects and centres as the demand for sale has increased in the convention venue.

Yadav claimed that the Prime Minister’s campaign to promote domestic products has helped increase the attraction of consumers towards DDC.

“The promotion and branding of indigenous products has drawn the attention of consumers to DDC. This has benefited farmers, consumers and corporations,” he said.

According to Yadav, the incentives and branding efforts given by the present government to indigenous products have attracted consumers more towards DDC products. He said that this initiative has not only contributed to the state’s GDP but has also facilitated the payment of farmers to some extent.

According to him, the Dairy Development Corporation is fully owned by the government and it aims to collect milk from rural farmers, process it and supply it to the consumers at a cheaper price.

Narayan Bahadur Katuwal, a commercial farmer of Dhankuta and president of District Dairy Association, also said that the increasing sale of DDC products in the general convention was positive. According to him, the demand for dairy products has increased in the market after the government publicized the domestic milk products.

Although the current promotional activities are positive, Katuwal has also drawn the attention of the government to the problems seen in the dairy sector as a whole. Katuwal said that domestic dairy products are better for health than foreign beverages (Coke, Fanta) and stressed on the need to expand the market for such products.

“The increase in the use of Nepali mohi as an alternative to foreign beverages is a positive thing,” said Katuwal. Consumers are also preferring it as it is now available at Rs 60. ’

He stressed that the DDC should resolve the problem of payment to the farmers immediately. According to him, the farmers are yet to be paid for about 6 months.

“It is good for DDC to expand the market, but the payment to farmers should not stop. The government should provide the remaining amount immediately,” he said.

Stating that financial support from the government was needed to make DDC viable in the long term, Katuwal urged the government to forward the policy keeping in mind the interest of farmers, dairy industries and consumers.

According to him, the problem of market in the Dairy Development Corporation is old. He said that in the past, the corporation used to be stingy in the purchase of milk in the absence of market and used to make payment to farmers for 6 months. He said that although the government has committed to pay the amount within 15-25 days with a target of 100 days, more than Rs 580 million is yet to be paid.

“The government should immediately provide funds to compensate the losses of the corporation. The corporation and thousands of farmers can be saved only by recruiting resources of Rs 500 crore and investing up to Rs 1 billion,” he said.

He stressed on the need for the government to bring relief packages immediately to strengthen the institutional structure rather than just relying on sales.

The increasing sale of DDC products amidst the presence of thousands of representatives and cadres attending the RSP general convention has indicated that the attraction towards domestic dairy products is increasing again.

The availability of delicious and healthy mustard in the crowd of the convention has not only relieved the participants but has also sent a positive message about the business transformation taking place in the dairy sector of Nepal. According to the participants, such stalls will further encourage branding of local products and make the Nepali dairy industry self-reliant.