"We are facing a surplus of at least 25,000 liters of fresh milk a day with the onset of flush season from August end as Chitawon Milk Ltd (CML), our largest client, ceased to procure milk from us and sales volume couldn´t rise on par with supply," said Shiya Ram Singh, general manager of DDC.[break]
According to DCC officials, the corporation has at least 80,000 liters of fresh milk in storage in Kathmandu, Hetauda, Biratnagar, Lumbini, Janakpur, Nepalgunj and Dhangadhi.
CML used to buy around 35,000 liters of fresh milk from the DDC for preparing its dairy whitener and powdered milk plants in Thimura of Chitwan till last year.
But it stopped buying milk from the DDC from this year as it shut down its skimmed milk production unit due to low demand, according to Uday Pandit, manager of CML.
"This has compelled us to announce milk holiday for one or two days to clear off our stock in seven milk distribution schemes across the country," Singh told Republica. Morang, Kavre, Ilam, Panchthar, Banke, Bardia and Kailali are among the districts that will face the milk holiday.
Under the announcement, Singh said the corporation will not collect fresh milk on Friday in some districts and Thursday in other districts. "This is a temporary measure to manage the surplus. We will end holiday as soon as demand pick up," said Singh.
Though Singh expressed hope that demand will pick up once major festivals knock the doors, he noted that how long the holiday last will depend on the demand and supply situation.
The DDC is presently collecting a total of 250,000 liters of milk each day through its five dozen chilling centers across the country. Of the total collections, 140,000 liter of fresh milk are sold in the Kathmandu valley, while demand outside the Valley stands at 85,000 liters a day.
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