New Goat Milk Powder Plant to Boost Paraíba's Dairy Sector
A new agro-industrial unit dedicated to processing goat milk powder is planned to commence operations in Casserengue, Paraíba, by September 2026. This initiative is designed to address ongoing issues such as surplus milk and limited capacity for milk collection from producers. The plant will be located in the Che Guevara settlement in Curimataú Paraibano and is expected to process up to 45,000 liters of milk per day.
The total investment for this project amounts to R$ 5.08 million and is expected to directly benefit 390 cooperative families across 16 municipalities. The shift to processing milk powder marks a significant change in the operational logic of the cooperative involved. The technical sector anticipates that this new industrial phase will eliminate losses from production surpluses and remove current quota limits imposed on registered producers.
The cooperative, which began with only three members and now comprises 390 families, plans to immediately support 500 goat farmers with the potential to expand to 1,800 producers integrated into the regional supply chain. This expansion is partially funded by R$ 1.5 million from the Government of Paraíba, with additional contributions from federal ministries and programs totaling R$ 1.5 million. The Cooperative of Production and Commercialization of Curimataú Paraibano (Coopac) has invested R$ 1.5 million in the industrial setup and an additional R$ 580,000 in infrastructure.
Currently, Coopac administers the Nutrilê brand, which sells approximately 50,000 liters of fluid milk and derivatives such as yogurt and cheese monthly. The addition of milk powder production represents a new chapter for the cooperative, enhancing its ability to absorb raw materials from members.
The project also depends on the continuation of public purchase programs. Presently, the Government of Paraíba purchases 36,000 liters of milk monthly from the cooperative for social programs like PAA Leite. According to state administration, this strategy will be sustained and expanded through new tenders.
Beyond increasing processing capacity, the new plant aims to minimize waste, improve predictability for producers, and ensure that production growth is matched with compatible industrial capacity, aligning with the evolution of the regional goat dairy sector.
