ChennaiThe Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government plans to bring 22,500 additional milch cows into the cooperative dairy network as part of a major effort to strengthen rural dairy farming and reverse the decline in milk procurement by Aavin. The measures are expected to increase Aavin’s daily milk procurement by at least 1.5 lakh litres over the next few years. The initiative assumes significance as Aavin’s average daily milk procurement has declined to around 31.5 lakh litres from approximately 35 lakh litres a year ago. Of the 12,500 cows proposed under the dairy schemes, 2,500 will be purchased for 500 new medium-scale dairy units, with five cows in each unit. Another 10,000 cows will be procured under the continuing mini dairy programme covering 5,000 units, each consisting of two cows.