Kwality Limited starts loan program for farmers to increase productivity

Kwality Limited, an Indian private dairy company, has distributed loans to 400 of its farmers at events in Rajasthan.

The events took place at Sardarshahar and Lunkaransar in the districts of Churu and Bikaner, Rajasthan, respectively.

The loans are part of a MoU with Bank of Baroda, which was signed earlier this year.

In the initial phase, INR 40bn ($616m) of loans will be distributed between 100,000 Kwality farmers, out of its existing network of 350,000 farmers in 4,700 villages in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (UP), and Haryana.

Increasing milk output

Offered at a rate of 8.6% p.a., each farmer can avail up to INR 400,000 ($6,160) and the funds can be used for purchasing milking animals, a smartphone, and a two-wheeler.

Through the scheme, the company aims to increase its direct procurement from farmers, which currently contributes 22% of its milk handling capacity of 3.4m liters per day.

Kwality also hopes to accelerate its transition towards B2C by enabling faster shifting of its product mix towards consumer products; primarily fresh milk and value-added products.

National scope

Dr R.S Khanna, chairman, Kwality Limited said the company is committed to improve the socio-economic lives of the farmer community through the scheme.

“Our intent is to go beyond our procurement areas and extend this arrangement towards other parts of the country. We are hopeful that this initiative will lay the foundation for a second white revolution," Khanna said.

Kwality currently has six plants, at Softa (Haryana), Saharanpur (UP), Bulandshaher (UP), Jarar (UP), Sitapur (UP) & Ajmer (Rajasthan).

Incorporated in 1992, Kwality products include variants of pouched milk, ghee, cow ghee, Livlite 85% less cholesterol ghee, UHT milk, UHT cream, curd, skimmed milk powder, wake up creamer, flavored milk, chaach, lassi and other dairy products.