The Kudumbashree Mission has entered the dairy products segment with its Milky Latte brand. Milk and value-added products under the brand will reach the market soon.
Milk under the brand is already being sold in the district by two Kudumbashree units in Kadinamkulam and Vilavoorkal panchayats.
Each units comprised five members and the milk was available locally, Kudumbashree District Mission programme manager Reena David said.
In two districts
Milk under the brand will initially be sold in Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur districts, while the value-added products will be available across the State. The aim is to find a market for milk produced by cattle-rearing units run by Kudumbashree women farmers under the Ksheerasagaram and common interest group (CIG) schemes.
Training will be given under the aegis of the Kudumbashree District Mission, in association with the Dairy Development Department, to units in panchayats for producing 35 value-added products such as ‘peda,’ chocolate, and paneer; packing the products; and in preserving them.
Training
A 10-day training for 25 Kudumbashree members got under way on Wednesday.
Depending on the success of the venture and a market study, it would be expanded across the district, Ms. David said.
For production of value-added products, ₹1.5 lakh will be given at 4% interest as community investment fund (CIF) loan. CIF loans has been given to 21 CIGs.
If the loan is taken from a bank, a subsidy of ₹50,000 will be given by Kudumbashree. Marketing support will also be provided.
The milk and milk products will be sold through rural markets, local sale, and own outlets such as that at Kadinamkulam.
The milk will largely be available in packets, though some of it will likely be in bottles. The formal launch of Milky Latte will be held this month.
