Solar Bulk Milk-Chillers
A Sustainable Solution For food Security And Preservation
Name: Chetan Wanjari
Location : Bhugaon , Maharashtra
The Problems
Residents of Bhugaon involved in milk production face significant challenges with rapid spoilage and lower market rates due to lack of freshness. Additionally, milk that is not sold is often wasted due to inadequate storage solutions. Furthermore, investing in milk storage facilities is prohibitively costly for individual farmers and offers poor returns, as these facilities require large amounts of electricity, leading to financial losses.
The Solution
Through the Amrit Gram Project, with assistance from Coldivate & Infilog, a milk-chilling facility was provided to Bhugaon residents. This facility maintains the storage temperature accurately between 3-5 degrees Celsius as required and is user-friendly. Compact enough for residential installation, it utilizes solar energy, making it a clean, green, and cost-effective solution in the long run.
The Impact
The implementation of the milk-chilling facility in Bhugaon has had several significant impacts:
- Reduced Spoilage: By maintaining the optimal temperature, the facility has significantly reduced milk spoilage, ensuring that milk stays fresh longer.
- Consistent Market Value: Fresher milk has led to more consistent market rates, improving the income for local farmers.
- Minimized Waste: With adequate storage, less milk is wasted, leading to better utilization of resources.
- Cost Savings: Utilizing solar energy has reduced electricity costs, making the facility economically viable for farmers.
- Environmental Benefits: The solar-powered system promotes sustainable practices, reducing the carbon footprint associated with traditional energy sources.
- Ease of Use: The user-friendly design of the facility has enabled even small-scale farmers to efficiently manage milk storage without extensive training.
Testimonial
Baba Devaraj Gayadane
Namaskar, my full name is Baba Devaraj Gayadane, I am from Bhugaon, Nagpur district. By profession I’m an Farmer. In our farm, we grow apple gourd, Cluster beans, bottle gourd, Ladyfinger etc. Before this, we used to keep the vegetables at home if the market was closed. But now, Solar Cold Storage has been installed at our Village by Vaishali Gyan Foundation. Because of this, we can store our goods here and if we store the goods for a day or two, there is no difference in quality. The price of the goods is the same as that of fresh goods. So, we have benefited a lot from this. Thank you very much for providing us this facility
Benefits of Implementation in Rural Areas :
Enhanced Livelihoods: By reducing spoilage and increasing market value, the milk-chilling facility boosts farmers' incomes, improving their overall economic stability.
Accessibility: The compact, user-friendly design ensures that even small-scale farmers can benefit from advanced milk storage technology without needing extensive infrastructure or training.
Sustainability: The use of solar energy aligns with sustainable farming practices, reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources and lowering operational costs.
Community Development: Implementing such facilities encourages community-wide adoption of better agricultural practices, fostering collective growth and resilience.
Health and Safety: Properly chilled milk is less likely to harbor harmful bacteria, ensuring safer, higher-quality products for consumers.
Conclusion
The introduction of a solar-powered milk-chilling facility in Bhugaon through the Amrit Gram Project, with the support of Coldivate & Infilog, has markedly transformed the local dairy farming landscape. This initiative has not only enhanced the economic viability of milk production by reducing spoilage and increasing market value but has also promoted sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. By providing a practical, cost-effective, and green solution, the project has significantly improved the livelihoods of Bhugaon’s farmers, demonstrating the profound impact of innovative agricultural technologies in rural areas.
