Hot 2014 [ Transfreez mobile refrigeration - India's most effective cold plate reefers ]

KOLHAPUR: With daytime temperature hovering around 38 degrees Celsius in the city this week, street vendors selling summer coolers and protective gear against a merciless sun seem to be doing brisk business.

The daytime maximum temperature in Kolhapur stood at 37.9 degrees Celsius on Thursday, while Sangli recorded a maximum temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius and Satara recorded a maximum temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius. Meteorological department officials said that the temperature will not see changes over the next 24 hours and the weather will be dry.

Kolhapur's temperature saw a sharp rise of almost four degrees Celsius - from 33 degrees Celsius to 38 degrees Celsius - over the past week, signalling a hot summer ahead.
The busy districts of Bhavusingji Road, Laxmipuri and Rajarampuri are abuzz with hawkers, peddling everything from lassi to buttermilk, jaljeera to juices, to quench the thirst of Kolhapur citizens. "We generally prepare 3,000 litres of lassi every day. The number doubles in summer. Sometimes, we fall short of milk to produce the required number of lassi and buttermilk. People prefer drinking these dairy products, because these are healthy and easy on the pocket," said Seema Shaha, owner of Mohak Lassi on Bhavusingji Road. Rajendra Daphale, a buttermilk and lassi vendor at the regional transport office square in Tarabai Park, said he has to close his shop as early as 3pm sometimes, finishing up his day's supplies with the rise in demand.

While vendors of coolers make the most of the season, medical practitioners in the city have strictly warned citizens on the hygiene of food, fruits, juices and dairy products sold on the streetside during summer, since these could lead to severe health problems.

"The increased temperature mainly affects the elderly and children. Drinking streetside juices and dairy products may seem an easy way to satisfy thirst, but these could prove to be highly dangerous if the water used is unfiltered. I would suggest the use of bottled and sealed products to quell any doubts," said Jayant Watave, head of the Kolhapur Medical Association.

Veteran paediatrician Prakash Vichare said that he treats at least two patients a day with complaints of diarrhoea, which is caused due to consumption of streetside water and fruits. "Keeping a check on vendors is a tedious task; anyone drinking or eating streetside items could risk a health hazard. Keeping your body sufficiently hydrated is necessary, but there should be no compromise with quality and hygiene," Vichare said.

The demand for sunglasses and caps too has seen a sharp rise, according to traders. "Caps are priced as low as Rs 20 to as high as Rs 100. Much of our stock of caps comes from Mumbai, while sunglasses come from Delhi and Mumbai. Summer is when our business peaks," said Jawed Tashildar, a local vendor selling caps and sunglasses.

"The city temperature has seen quite an increase in the past few days, which is very unlike Kolhapur, which is known for cooler temperatures even during summers," said Rucha Karkare, a local residend.

Transfreez mobile refrigeration - India's most effective cold plate reefers

Source: The Times of India

Dairy farming boosts village economy [Transfreez Mobile Refrigeration-India's Most Effective Cold Plate Reefers]

Rahati village has an additional advantage of a large section of its population belonging to Gawali or shepherd community. Taking advantage of their expertise, all other villagers have taken up dairy and goat farming which has given a boost to the village economy. The village has set an example of a mini milk revolution. Rahati now sells 500-700 litres of milk and milk products like butter milk every day to the dairy company Dinshaw's. 

It is again the women folk who are doing majority of the dairy work. "Almost each household has either cows or buffaloes now. Before the Nabard project, only the Gawalis were into milk business. But after the project when the earnings increased, each household bought either a cow or buffalo. Women take care of all the rearing activities like bringing fodder and milking. They also prepare curd, ghee and butter milk from the milk. We have a small cooling plant of Dinshaw's near Kondhali. Men bring the milk there," said Sandhya Puri, a member of the Sanyukta Mahila Samiti (SMS). 

Another SMS member Sushila Kadu tells that they have support from the other SMS in the village cluster consisting of Joga Heti and Nagarjuni villages. Dattu Chopde, a veterinary doctor from Nagarjuni treats sick animals. He even guides villagers on the kind of feed the animals should get.

Landless families of Mangala Giri and Chandrakala Bhad are two of the many families whose fortunes took a turn after they took up goat farming. "Most of us started with just one goat. In two years each family has sold at least eight goats and got enough money to convert it into a community business," told Chandrakala. 

Sandhya, who is a BCom graduate, keeps all the accounts. She guides the women in proper utilization of their money by investing into self-help groups or starting tailoring shops in the village. "Some girls have learnt stitching. Even if they get stitching orders from 2-3 villages around, they can add lots to family income," she said. 

Transfreez Mobile Refrigeration-India's Most Effective Cold Plate Reefers

Source: The Times of India