Production of lesser quantity of milk, functioning of less number of milk producers cooperative societies in north Karnataka districts and supply of adulterated milk from the private producers in that part dominated 61st All India Cooperative Week commenced here on Saturday.
Expressing concern over these issues, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah suggested the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to focus on creating more milk producers’ cooperative societies in northern part of the state and increase procurement of milk.
Underlining the need to create more milk producers cooperative societies headed by women, Mr. Siddaramaiah asked KMF to increase the number of societies from 12,971 to 20,000 by 2020 and boost the milk production from present 60-lakh litres to 150-lakh litres and also promised to help Women Cooperative Federation in becoming self reliant.
Supplementing the concern of Mr. Siddaramaiah, the Minister for Animal Husbandry T.B. Jayachandra said that the need was to rein private milk producers’ mafia, which was supplying adulterated milks to various parts of north Karnataka.
They are mixing substances which were detrimental to the health of people. Considering the gravity of the issue the government was thinking of handing over the responsibility checking the quality of milk to food department with drawing the power from Health department, he said.
Real challenge
Meanwhile KMF admits the fact that, it was facing touch challenge of increasing milk production in the districts of north Karnataka. Its report on annual milk yield has revealed the fact that the 13 north Karnataka districts produce over 9-lakh litres of the 60-lakh litres of milk collected in the state every day.
Considering the improvement in quality of cattle feed, after blending corn, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that permission would be granted to KMF to procure maize directly from the farmers.
Responding the appeal by Mr. Jayachandra to implement scheme of giving incentive of 20 paise a litre to office bearers of milk societies, he said, he would direct the officials to issue directive in this regard.
Detailing the support extended by the government to KMF, he said, the government was spending Rs.825 crore for providing rupee four subsidy for a litre of milk and Rs. 639 crore for implementing Ksheera Bhagya programme.
The Minister for Cooperation H.S. Mahadeva Prasad said, foundation for Sahakari Bhavan which is coming in prime locality of Malleshwaram at a cost of Rs.15 crore would be laid shortly and the structure would be named after S.S. Patil, father figure of cooperative movement in state.
As many as six leaders of cooperative movement were conferred Sahakari Ratna awards on the occasion.
