Kerala will achieve self-sufficiency in milk production by the end of 12th Five Year Plan term, Rural Development and Dairy Development Minister K.C. Joseph has said.
The State used to purchase around six lakh litres of milk from other States in the previous year. This had come down to one lakh this year, despite there being a steep increase in consumption rate, the Minister said. Malabar region registered a surplus production of 2.5 lakh litres, he added.
Mr. Joseph was speaking at a function after inaugurating the renovated building of the milk cooperative society and information centre of dairy farmers, funded by the Dairy Development Department to mark the second anniversary of the UDF government in the hilly hamlet of Vellarikundu in the district on Saturday.
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He said the government was actively considering setting up dairy development offices in Parappa and Karadukka block panchayats.
District panchayat president P.P. Shyamala Devi presided. Milma Chairman P.T. Gopala Kurup disbursed the grant to the cooperative society while District Collector P.S. Mohammed Sagir distributed the welfare board fund to the dairy farmers.
The function was attended by Parapapa block panchayat presidnet Meenakshi Thampan and Balal grama panchayat president Raju Kattakkayam, among others.
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