About the Organization
Sundarban Co-operative Milk & Livestock Producers’ Union Limited also known as Sundarban Milk Union is a cooperative organisation established in the year 2003 under West Bengal Co-operative Societies Act, 2006 and West Bengal Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2011. The area of operation of the Milk Union is South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
In November, 2015 the Milk Union was re-activated and started its renewed journey under the visionary of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, active leadership and guidance of Dr. P.B. Salim, IAS, District Magistrate, South 24 Parganas and technical and financial support from Government of West Bengal and National Dairy Development Board by conceiving and launching a unique brand of dairy and agri products procured and processed from the farmers of Sunderbans, called 'Sundarini'.
'Sundarini' brand was named by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal in 2015.
Our Vision
To empower marginalized women farmers of Sundarban Islands for better life and livelihood, provide certified & tested chemical-free food for farmers and consumers with utmost transparency.
Our Mission
- Arrest exploitation by middle-men and stop distress selling by farmers.
- Doubling of the income of our farmers by 2022.
- Farmer-Consumer Connect for authentic, chemical-free, preservative-free, certified organic food products.
- Protection of ecologically challenged Sundarban Islands through chemical-free organic farming and work for sustainability.
- Ensure quality life of the farmers and their children.
- Innovation in organized dairy cooperative sector by holistic market linkage of dairy, agriculture & wild produces of farmers.
Farmers’ Own Brand, Farmers’ Pride : Sundarini Naturals
The women farmers from mangrove buffer of India Sundarban areas in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal in recent past were often killed by Tiger attack, Crocodile fetch or venomous snake bites in regular course!! Major livelihood was shrimp-fry (meen) catching and hardly earn Rs. 50-60/- per day. Super-cyclones Aila in 2009, Bulbul in 2019 and Amphan in 2020 repeatedly smashed their shelter, livelihood.
Managed by extreme willpower and support from Government of West Bengal, West Bengal Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd. and technical support from National Diary Development Board around 5000 women farmers of Sundarban Islands kept their own organization alive.
100% automation and instant testing facilities at village level Dairy Cooperative Societies, 100% farmers’ database (Know Your Farmer) in Central Server System, 100% Cashless Payment through individual bank account of farmers, participation in social activities like Mangrove Plantation, Cleanliness Drive, Awareness Programmes have strengthen the bonding between farmers, professionals – the employees of the farmers and their brand – Sundarini Naturals.
Representatives from Management Committee (MCM) of various village-level Women Dairy Cooperative Societies take part in decision making at district level along with professionals, technical experts of the organization and district administration.
Organizational Setting
Sundarban Cooperative Milk and Livestock Producers’ Union Ltd. is a producer cooperative affiliated to West Bengal Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Ltd. and is governed by West Bengal Cooperative Societies Act 2006 and West Bengal Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2011. The operational area of the Cooperative is South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
The District Magistrate & Collector, South 24 Parganas acts as Special Officer of the organization.
Organic Certification
Taking oath on the eve of World Milk Day (1st June) in 2017 thousands of farmers took initiative for Third-Party Organic Certification. Tireless efforts of the officers, staffs and honesty of the farmers make the task to be completed in 2020. Sundarban Cooperative Milk and Livestock Producers’ Union Ltd. received organic certification on Wild Sundarban Honey, Cow Milk & Milk Products and Agricultural Produce (in Conversion) as per guidelines of National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), APEDA, Ministry of Commerce & Industries, Government of India from Rajasthan State Organic Certification Agency, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur - our Certification Body.
Our Accreditation No.: NPOP/NAB/0013
Farmers’ Initiatives : National & International Recognition
Sundarini’s unique cooperative model, tireless efforts of the professionals and honest practice of the farmers brought recognition nationally and internationally which have built confidence in both our farmers and customers.
Our Products & Happy Consumers: An Invisible Super-bond
"Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what the customer gets out of it”- Peter Drucker
“Consumers want to reconnect with the joy of eating…without comprise” having desire for “Freedom Food”- freedom from harmful chemicals, freedom from adulterants, freedom from preservatives. Our efforts are always to remind health conscious consumers about their ‘Right to Good Food’. Not only promise, we always maintain absolute transparency by providing Laboratory Test Reports from reputed, independent NABL accredited food testing laboratories in the country.
In last couple of years Sundarini Naturals has created a sense of differentiation between ‘Healthy Food and Not’ like Gold and Glittering Metal among our valued consumers. During scarcity in production due to sudden cause people travel long to get Sundarini products from our farthest outlet, failing which somehow restrain her from buying other brand till our stocks are refilled.
Happy Eating, Healthy Living !!!
