India: Mother Dairy to build new processing plant

Indian company Mother Dairy has announced its intention to set up a new processing plant for fruit and vegetables in the east of the country.

The leading dairy firm is investing 75.65 crore INR ($11.1 million) in the new plant, which will have a processing capacity of 25,000 metric tonnes per year and which will be located in Ranchi, Jharkhand.  The two-phase project is expected to conclude in 2017 when the pulp and concentrate processing line will be operational. The freezing line is expected to be concluded by December 2016.

Mother Dairy managing director S Nagarajan commented: "Jharkhand has immense potential for processing of various fruits and vegetables. Through this state-of-the-art facility, we will strive to explore better opportunities for almost 50,000 farmers and their produce".

Mother Dairy was commissioned in 1974 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). Mother Dairy markets and sells milk and dairy products and also has diversified its portfolio to other industries including edible oils, fruit and vegetables.

Source: Economic Times / Mother Dairy