JOIN USThe milk route which was initiated four years ago is facing threat of closure in Malnad. With private association giving emphasis to dairy farming, milk production had increased. However, owing to lack of market, the economic condition of dairy farmers did not improve.
When K S Eshwarappa was the District-in-Charge Minister, with the efforts of MLA D N Jeevraj, the milk route was started in July 2010. With the commencement of milk route, 10 milk societies in N R Pura and one in Kuduregundi was started.
As Hassan Milk Federation refused to procure milk from N R Pura and Koppa milk route, the MLA had pressurised KMF to procure milk by the Shimoga Milk Federation.
Accordingly, farmers purchased cow and started dairy farming. The milk societies were supplying 2,500 to 3,000 litres of milk daily for the last four years. It was said that Shimoga Milk Producers Cooperative Society was incurring loss, by procuring milk and selling it to the Hassan KMF.
According to an estimate, Hassan KMF is selling more than 20,000 litre milk in Sringeri constituency and more than 1,000 litre milk in N R Taluk. As Shimoga Milk Federation has no right to sell milk, the milk producers societies are denied of facilities from the KMF.
In its letter to all the milk producers society President dated August 6, Shimoga Milk Federation Executive Director said that it is incurring a huge loss by procuring milk from N R Pura milk route.
As the milk procured is more than the demand, it has to be sent to other federation for converting it into milk products. This is an additional burden on the federation. The transportation and colling cost should be borne by the Hassan Milk Federation.
If they fail to accept, then the milk procurement will be stopped from August 16, said the letter. Frightened by the letter, the milk producers met Shimoga District-in-Charge Minister Kimmane Ratnakar and appraised him of the situation. Reacting to it, the Minister directed Shimoga Milk Federation to maintain the status quo.
To find a permanent solution to the problems faced by the milk producers, milk producers forum has been constituted. Sringeri Milk Producers Hitharakshana Vedike President E C Joy said that there is a need to fight till the problem is solved.
MLA D N Jeevraj said that a delegation will meet Chief Minister and Minister for Cooperation to impress upon them to direct Shimoga Milk Federation to procure milk from 11 societies. At the same time Hassan Milk Federation President Revanna will also be asked to find a solution to the problem.