The $150 million Amaya milk plant in Region Five is set to begin making paneer next week, even as it awaits the end of February importation of its main pasteurizing plant for milk bottling production to commence, founder Omkaar Sharma says.
“All major construction at the plant is completed, but the main pasteurizer plant is not scheduled to get here until the end of February. So we will be making paneer in the interim… as a secondary product,” Sharma told Stabroek News yesterday, as he provided an update on the project.
“… We have talked to one of the farmers to next week start supplying milk for a soft start and that process will begin,” he added.
He said that the milk collected next week will assist in the company “doing a test run for everything” pertaining to processing before pas-teurization and relating to making the paneer.
Paneer, a fresh acid-set cheese, is common in Indian cuisine especially here in Guyana. It is made from full-fat cow’s milk.
The Amaya Milk Company CEO said that after next week’s testing and processing, the com-pany hopes that by 2nd February the product will be on shelves throughout the country. And when the main pasteurizing plant equipment is cleared and set up, the company plans to hold an official launch for both products.
In April of 2021, Sharma had told this newspaper of plans to establish a milk plant here, as he saw the need not only in Guyana, but throughout the region.
He had informed that the plant will initially produce 100 gallons per day and that amount could be swiftly bumped up to 800 gallons a day, depending on the supply from farmers.
Under the umbrella of the Amaya Milk Company, Sharma said, the milk processing facility will be underpinned by the advocacy of renewables and incentivising locals.
Since Region Five leads in cattle farming on the coastland, Sharma disclos-ed that when he discussed the investment idea with the Ministry of Agricul-ture, he was advised it would be the best location to set up his facility.
He clinched a lease for land at Onverwagt for the construction of the facility and when completed, the bottled milk produced, under the Mahaica Dairy Milk brand, will go on sale at local supermarkets throughout the country.
At the sod-turning last year, the entrepreneur had explained that he spent 18 years in Canada, 12 in the dairy sector at various levels. During that time, he said, he always wondered how awesome it would be to do that in Guyana.
It is expected that the facility will create jobs in the local community, as well as provide a reliable market for local cattle farmers. It is estimated that 20 to 30 persons will be employed during the construction phase, while approximately 15 persons will be employed full time once the processing plant is in operation.
The plan is that milk will be collected from cattle farmers in both Region Five and Region Six for processing at the facility.
Phase 1 of the venture sees an investment value of $150 million. Phase 2 is expected to commence in about two years with an expansion for the produc-tion of yogurt, cheese, paneer, and cream, while with the increase of local dairy production, the com-pany hopes to supply the regional markets as well.
At capacity, the milk company is expected to make direct payments in excess of $75 million per month to dairy farmers.
Sharma’s initiative has come in for high praise from government with the ministers of Agriculture and Finance, Zulfikar Mustapha and Dr Ashni Singh, promising govern-ment’s support for the plan that is demonstrative of citizens investing in diverse sectors.
