State-of-the-art ice cream unit in Hassan soon

Hassan Milk Producers’ Union has decided to establish a state-of-the-art ice cream manufacturing unit in the city, which would start functioning from June 2016, said MLA and union president H D Revanna.

Addressing media persons, after laying foundation for the unit, in Hassan, on Monday, he said, the unit is being established at a cost of Rs 25 crore. The unit, which will have a capacity to produce 20,000 litres everyday, but initially will manufacture 10,000 litres of icecream.

The unit will be the first in the country to utilise ‘Extrusion’ technology being used only in some foreign countries, for manufacturing icecreams. There are also plans to manufacture nutritious exotic icecreams, which are in great demand.
The union is not expecting any financial help from the government, and will be using its own funds, he added.

UHT unit
The union, as announced last year, has almost completed the construction of the UHT milk production unit, which will be inaugurated by July end, Revanna said.
The unit, which produces tetra pack, is being established at a cost of Rs 45 crore and has been completed in a span of just 14 months.

The unit will process one lakh litres of milk and pack it in tetra pack, the shelf life of which is more. The unit has plans to supply milk to the North Eastern states and also to the defence forces. There is a demand for 20,000 litres of milk from Singapore, Malaysia and Arab countries, Revanna informed.

Against hike
Commenting on the government’s proposal to hike price of Nandini milk, he said, the attempt by the government would result in losing the support of the consumers and producers, while it is already facing stiff competition from private milk manufacturers. The government should concentrate on marketing to ease out of the situation, he suggested.

Revanna said, he has urged the Chief Minister to handover the milk powder unit in Channarayapatna to the union, which would be beneficial. Four lakh litres of milk is being dispatched to other districts everyday, which results in a loss of four rupees per litre, he said.