Mandya district has topped the list of district-wise milk production in the State by producing 6.25 lakh litres every day and has gained a profit of Rs 3.97 crore for the current fiscal year.
The overall milk production of the State is 60 lakh litres every day and Mandya has been successful in supplying more than six lakh litres. As per the records, the production stood at 5.24 lakh litres last year, which has crossed six lakh this year. It is expected to cross seven lakh litres during the harvest season in December this year.
Mandya district comprises a large number of dairy farmers and the production has increased after the incentive has been raised to Rs 4 per litre.
There are 1,083 milk producers cooperative unions in the district, including 426 women’s cooperatives. Every society has the capacity of producing 100 to 3,000 litres of milk.
In all, there are 2,42,237 members including 93,823 small farmers, 70,545 micro farmers, 36,211 landless labourers, 41,658 others. Lakhs of families are dependent on dairy farming for their living.
To Kerala
More than 60,000 litres of milk is being supplied to Kerala every day. About 80,000 litres to KMF mother dairy, 30,000 litres to Channarayapatna for the production of milk powder and others. About 55,000 litres is transported to Milk Federation in Kumbalgod, Bangalore, for the packaging of ‘Goodlife’, which is a tetrapack and has a life of 90 days.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Manmul Managing Director Dr Swamy said that it has been decided to increase the supply to one lakh litres.
Animal Husbandry is gaining popularity in the district which has 1.65 lakh hybrid cattle, more than one lakh buffaloes, four lakh indigenous cattle. As per the National Dairy Plan project the district has been sanctioned 71 bulk milk cooler units. The milk is supplied to the units within four hours of milking, Swamy said.
It had gained a profit of 62.21 lakh during the year 2012-13, and a whopping Rs 3.97 crore during the year 2013-14. Various schemes have been introduced for the benefit of the milk producers and also increase the storage capacity of milk dairies, he added.