R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENGALPATTU (TN), AUG 10
Akshayakalpa Organic, the country’s first certified organic dairy based in Karnataka is now expanding its footprint to Tamil Nadu with a model farm and Research and Development facility, said Shashi Kumar, CEO and Co-Founder.
In an informal chat with the visiting journalists from Chennai, Shashi Kumar said Akshayakalpa Organic was the dream child of a bunch of guys from a leading IT Company in Bengaluru nearly 12 years ago. Over 30 youngsters with IT background plunged into this venture with a vow to give 100 per cent organic milk and dairy products to the people established the model farm in Tiptur in Tumkuru district of Karnataka.
- The new Research and Development facility with a model organic farm is situated at Pooriyambakkam village in Chengalpattu District
- This facility was unveiled by Oliver Ballhatchet, British Deputy High Commissioner to TN and Puducherry during the beginning of this year
- We judiciously follow 100 % organic farming, dairying practices; our aim is to nurture and train one farmer in each village and make them self-sustainable to earn Rs 1.5 lakh per month, says Chandan, an IT guy who is In-charge of the model farm
Now, the company has over 1,200 farmers in its kitty in and around Tiptur and producing 85,000 litres of milk per day, said Shashi Kumar.
Out of this, 85 per cent is distributed in Karnataka through its own distribution network and other delivery apps and the balance 15 per cent of production is being supplied to Chennai, he added.
With the success in Karnataka, the company is now expanding its footprint the state of Tamil Nadu, the land of Nammazhwar, who had nurtured organic farming in the state.
Akshhayakalpa has established a model organic dairy farm in Pooriyambakkam village in Chengalpattu District, situated 90 kms south of Chennai.
The model farm in a plot of 20 acres was named as Akshayakalpa Velan Kudil or ‘farmer’s home’, replicating the model farm and R&D facility in Tiptur in Karnataka.
This facility was unveiled by Oliver Ballhatchet, British Deputy High Commissioner to TN and Puducherry during the beginning of this year with aim to reach out organic dairy products to Tamil Nadu market.
Shashi Kumar said that this model organic dairy farm I Pooriyambakkam village of Chengalpattu district demonstrates Akshayakalpa’s trademark of profitable dairy farming that is integrated with sustainable, small regenerative agricultural production units.
Akshayakalpa has created new benchmarks for sustainable farm practices that help produce milk and milk products that are free from antibiotics and chemical pesticide residue. Akshayakalpa currently works with 300 farmers and caters to 25,000 households in Tamil Nadu. It expects to deliver fresh and healthy organic milk and dairy products to more than 2,00,000 discerning customers over the next five years.
“Our aim is make a farmer in each village to produce pure organic milk and dairy products and make them as a catalyst or a change-maker in the society to create organic revolution’’ Shashi Kumar added.
Shashi Kumar said, “Health-conscious consumers are a growing tribe in India that will one day in the near future be strong enough to mainstream organic food in the country. This movement also presents a historic opportunity to bring best practices into Indian dairy farms and improve the economic conditions of our farmers. Akshayakalpa Velan Kudil is working closely with the farmers in Tamil Nadu to achieve the same level of success as their counterparts in the Tiptur (Karnataka) cluster have achieved. We are also delighted at the prospect of expanding our consumer family and winning more hearts in the state.”
A new dairy being commissioned near the model dairy farm and R & D facility will start operating processing 4,000 litres of milk daily from November 2023, Shashi Kumar said.
Akshayakalpa Velan Kudil in Pooriyambakkam is open for visit for consumers and all get a first-hand experience of the flourishing biodiversity hub and see state-of-the-art production facility. Since 2010, more than 20000+ customers, nature and animal lovers, and media professionals have visited Akshayakalpa’s Tiptur farm as the goodness of Akshayakalpa products is born and reaped at the farms, it is here the story of wholesome organic milk for you and the family begins.
Chandan, In charge of the TN model farm and R & D facility told visiting journalists that the aim of Akshayakalpa Organic is to make one farmer in each village to earn Rs. 1.5 lakh per month.
