Schoolchildren may get flavoured milk soon

Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) chairman P Nagaraju has said that there is a proposal before the federation to distribute flavoured milk to the government schoolchildren under Ksheera Bhagya scheme in 200ml flexi packs.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the KMF chairman said, milk powder mixed with water and sugar is being given to schoolchildren. The federation is planning to provide flavoured milks in flexi packs. The flavoured milk will be more hygienic and easy to distribute compared to the milk powder which is mixed with water and sugar .”  
Owing to the growing cost of milk production and the demands from dairy farmers to increase support price/incentive, the chairman said KMF is planning to reduce bulk distribution of milk and milk products, in phased manner, and increase their presence in the retail market.  “There is a dire need for increase in milk production and profit margin of the milk products.  We will slowly reduce the bulk supplies and instead will get into retail to increase profit s,” he added.

The federation will also venture into manufacturing cream, cheese  in the coming days, he said.  The KMF chairman said that there was a need to increase the demand for milk powder and butter to improve the financial status of the dairy farmers as well as the federation.

 Compared to other states, KMF is selling milk and milk products at a cheaper rate.  Giving out a comparison chart, he said that toned milk costs Rs 29 per litre in Karnataka while it is Rs 38 in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh and Rs 37 in Tamil Nadu. Even in terms of quality of the milk and milk products, the KMF is far ahead than the rest, he added.
KMF’s proposal to increase the milk prices by Rs four is still pending before the state government.