Mumbai and Home!

Welcome to Mumbai - at low tide. I traveled to Mumbai on the 5th for my last two days and had a wonderful meeting with the governments agricultural bank located in Mumbai. I was greated by 6 great guys, each handling different aspects of agricultural loans for Dairy, forestry, tea, nuts, fishing, etc.

Dairy Capital

On the 3rd I moved to Anand, about 200km north of Mumbai - which is considered the "Dairy Capital" of India. This is home to Amul the largest and most well know dairy cooperative in the country. The fact that they have created an empire of sorts one farm at a time, usually with 2-3 cows on each farm is absolutely astonishing. To see farmers of all ages lined up every morning and night, delivering their milk to the village society (one of 14,000 of them!) is an amazing sight. They control everyting from collection to production of prodocts and all marketing. They are the largest food packaging group in Asia! It makes me wonder where the traditional co-ops of the US have gone.

Monday Chennai

Yesterday I moved to Chennai, on the southern point of India. Much more tropical here..its the rainy season and very humid. The sights are different, with more greenery and less dryness, even a few hills. The city has seen a quick development in recent years and is also known as the Detroit of India. This development is evident when you drive outside of the city. I spent a great day with Hermantha from Hand In Hand Here I am meeting a very progressive dairy and fodder farmer and also with a group of women who are experimenting with organic vegetable production. Both of them served as mentors to other farmers in the area working with the organization. It was great to get out into the countryside!