High temperature across the State has affected milk production, with Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) reporting reduced milk procurement in April. Not only production but even the quality of milk has been affected by the heat.
While the KMF procured an average 60.5 lakh litres of milk a day in April 2015, the procurement has come down to about 58 lakh litres a day this April.
With temperature ranging between 37 degrees Celsius and 42 degrees Celsius in major milk producing districts, including Kolar, Mandya, Bengaluru and Mysuru, production has been affected and fat content in the milk has declined, KMF chairman P. Nagaraju told The Hindu .
“We should also calculate the decline in terms of negative growth. On an average, we are growing around 15 per cent, and ideally, we should have had procurement in range of 65 to 67 lakh litres a day. However, the procurement is now down to around 58 lakh,” he added. The mixed breeds of HF and jersey cows tend to be affected because of the heat and it reflects on the quality and quantum of milk produced during summer, he said, and added that the heat had been particularly harsh in the past few weeks.
Meanwhile, the federation is also looking at reducing the price of the cattle feed it manufactures and sells to farmers, and a decision will be taken at the board meeting.
Incidentally, last year, the KMF struggled to handle a glut situation when procurement touched 75 lakh litres a day, against the demand of about 46 litres. Most of the excess milk had to be converted to skimmed milk powder.
