Kolhapur, Correspondent
In a major move to compete with national brands like Amul and Mother Dairy, Gokul Dairy is set to enter the market with cheese and ice cream products. Chairman Navid Mushrif announced that buffalo milk will be purchased at ₹10 per liter and cow’s milk at ₹8 per liter.
The 63rd Annual General Meeting of the Kolhapur District Milk Producers’ Union (Gokul) was held at the Mahalaxmi Cattle Feed Plant in Shirgaon MIDC. Chairman Navid Mushrif welcomed all participants at the beginning of the meeting. A condolence resolution was read out, followed by his inaugural address. The agenda was presented by Executive Director Dr. Yogesh Godbole, and members approved the proposals with a unanimous vote.
Gokul’s cow’s milk and buffalo’s milk curd products are already popular across Maharashtra. With the growing presence of milk producers and increasing consumer demand, Gokul has decided to expand into cheese and ice cream segments, leveraging its strong market base.
This expansion is expected to further boost Gokul’s market presence and intensify competition with other major dairy producers, while offering customers a wider range of high-quality dairy products.
Key Achievements and Future Plans
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Gokul has already achieved a collection milestone of 20 lakh liters and aims to reach 25 lakh liters.
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The cooperative’s turnover increased from ₹3,670 crore at the end of March 2024 to ₹3,966 crore by the end of March 2025, marking a growth of ₹296 crore.
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The share capital also saw an increase of ₹1.74 crore.
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Plans for expansion include focusing on fodder development, breeding programs, and purchasing superior buffalo breeds.
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Chairman Navid Mushrif announced that Gokul will soon start producing custard products such as custard apple, fig, and rose petal basundi.
Participation and Leadership
The meeting was attended by prominent leaders including Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif, MLA Satej (Bunty) Patil, and directors Chetan Narke, Shashikant Patil-Chuyekar, Vishwasrao Patil, Arunkumar Dongle, Kisan Chougule, Ranjitsingh Patil, Karnsingh Gaikwad, Babasaheb Chougule, Ambarish Ghatge, Sujit Minchekar, Yuvaraj Patil, Muralidhar Jadhav, and others, along with all dairy producers.
Chairman Navid Mushrif delivered the welcome address, while thanks were extended by Shashikant Patil Chuyekar.
A Stormy Moment
Although the meeting was expected to be smooth, it faced a brief disruption when opposition member Shauziya Mahadik raised objections midway. However, her concerns were ignored, and Executive Director Dr. Godbole continued presenting the agenda. Supporters responded with loud slogans, attempting to overpower the dissenting voice and ensure that the agenda proceeded uninterrupted.
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