Transport Equipment

Importance

Under Indian conditions, milk has to be regularly collected and transported twice a day (morning and evening).

Modes of transport

These depend upon the carrying load, the distance of collection and local conditions.

Modes of milk transportation in India

Mode

Optimum load (kg)

Optimum distance (km)

Remarks

Head-load

15-25

3 – 8

 Generally employed for small loads and distances. Important in hilly areas.

Shoulder-sling

Up to 40

3 – 6

 Meant for heavier loads but for shorter distances than head-load.

Pack-animal

Up to 80

6 - 10

 Ponies, horses and donkeys usually employed.

Bullock-cart

300-400

10 –12

 Rather slow.

Tonga

250-300

12 or more

 Larger quantities transported; faster than head-load, shoulder-sling and pack animal.

Bicycle

40 or more

15 or more

 Quick and handy; easily accessible to milk producer’s home.

Cycle-rickshaw

150-200

10 or more

 More carrying capacity than bicycle.

Boat

40-200

2 – 8

 Only means of transport when rivers, etc., have to be crossed.

Auto-rickshaw

250-500

15 or more

 Greater carrying capacity and faster than cycle-rickshaw.

Motor truck

½ to 3 tonnes

15 or more

 Increasingly in use with more road building and improvement programmes.

Railway wagon

11 tonnes or more

80 or more

 Great scope in future.

Tankers

(road or rail)

5 tonnes or more

80 or more

 Great scope in future.
  • Road vs. Rail Transport

The individual advantages of each have been stated below

Individual advantages of road and rail transport

Type of transport

Advantages
Road

i) Loading and unloading possible directly at
godown of seller and buyer.

ii) Cheaper than rail over short distances

iii) Less time-consuming.

Rail

i) Cheaper than road over long distances.

ii) Larger quantity of milk can be handled at a time.
  • Can vs. Tanker Transport

The individual advantages of each have been given below

Type of Transport

Advantages

Can

i) Handling small quantities of milk possible.

Tanker

i) Quicker mode of transport.

ii) Lower cost.

iii) Better temperature control.

iv) Less risk of contamination.

v) More time and labour saving.

vi) Lower investment in cans.

vii) Overall saving in detergents, etc.

Types Of Containers Used

These are made of:

  1. Wood or bamboo
  2. Metal (generally brass)
  3. Galvanized-iron (GI)
  4. Second-hand tins (mainly vegetable oil/ghee)
  5. Tinned-iron or aluminium-alloy (used by organized dairies)
  6. Baked earth

Problems

The problems in relation to collection and transportation of milk are :

  1. Milk is liquid, perishable and bulky.
  2. Tropical climate.
  3. Small and scattered production of milk.
  4. Lack of transport facilities.
  5. Lack of countrywide organizations for milk collection and transport.
  6. Vested interests among local milk merchants.


Ag.
Technologies
(Dairy)