Mangaluru
The Dakshina Kannada Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Limited (DKMUL), which is reeling under a serious dip in milk production, has made several plans to mitigate the situation.
DKMUL President Sucharitha Shetty said while the current demand is for 5.2 lakh litres per day, the milk production is 3.7 lakh litres a day. Around 1.4 to 1.5 lakh litres of milk per day is procured from other unions such as Hassan, Mysuru, Shivamogga and others every day. The demand for milk is expected to increase by another 20 percent in a few years, but production continues to drop. In a year, the Union is trying to increase milk production to 4.5 lakh litres, said Shetty, addressing media persons. As a result of milk procurement from other unions, DKMUL is incurring a 75 paise loss per litre, and it is recovered through milk by-products, such as sweets and ghee. The demand for curd has increased from 70,000 litres to 80,000 litres per day, he said.
Shetty said that during the pandemic, milk production touched more than 5 lakh litres a day, and then suddenly dropped. The reason is that youngsters lost interest in milking cows after work from home ended, and the aged were unable to manage it. The land that was meant for fodder has been converted into arecanut groves or other commercial crops are grown. We are giving financial help of Rs 5,000 for transportation of each mixed-breed cattle. One can avail subsidy for two cows. There is also a plan to give subsidies to purchase mixed breed cattle in the coming days. It is done so that youngsters are attracted to the milk production industry, he said.
