Dairy farmers Dayanand and Trupti Gawas have now passed the baton to their son; they call for govt support to secure the future of Goa’s milk industry.
When Trupti Gawas of Chandel, Goa, was pregnant with her son, her husband Dayanand did not have an stablished career- he was dabbling in several occupations and unsatisfied by all. On a whim, he decided to purchase two cows, so he can give their child fresh, unadulterated cow’s milk. Little did the young couple know that they would one day run a thriving dairy business, inspiring an supporting dozens of other farmers to join their ‘white revolution’ in Pernem.
Today, the family owns 80 cows, with five different varieties, producing 600 litres of milk daily. Their journey wasn’t without challenges, including cow deaths, delayed government subsidies, and rapidly increasing feed costs. However, with the support of well-wishers, Dayanand and Trupti persevered.
Trupti highlights the bureaucratic hurdles they faced while obtaining funds for their venture.
“We receive only a 40% milk subsidy, which, in our opinion, falls short of our needs. We believe it should be increased to a minimum of 50%. Additionally, the government pays us just 32 rupees for a liter of milk with 3.5% fat content. This rate was set three years ago, and considering the rising costs in the industry, we strongly urge the government to revise it to at least 35 rupees,” she adds.
Dayanand makes a compelling case for dairy farming in Goa, suggesting that faulty agricultural policies discourage newcomers. The Gawas family’s dedication has also brought together around 55 families under the Sateri Doodh Sanstha at Chandel, collectively supplying over 2,000 liters of milk to Goa Dairy daily.
As Dayanand is now 65, and battling blindness, he has passed the baton to Trupti and his son Santosh, who have been handling the dairy business for the past eight years.
Trupti’s deep connection with their cows goes beyond business, and the three farmers dote on their cows, even bathing them during hot weather and playing soft music for them. While he may have taken a back seat, Dayanand says he is proud of the legacy he’s built.
