Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Nov 24: Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) chairman and MLA, Somashekhar Reddy, has given indications of the move of the state apex body of milk procurement and marketting, to hike the prices of milk and milk products being produced by the Federation under ‘Nandini’ brand, by saying that the Federation is finding it absolutely necessary to affect this hike, as it has been paying higher prices to the dairy farmers.

This is contrary to the stand earlier taken by Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, who steadfastly resisted moves by then chairman of KMF, H D Revanna, to hike milk prices, culminating in the toppling of Revanna from the position.

Speaking to reporters in the city on Monday November 23, Reddy said that a final decision on this issue would be taken at the next meeting of the KMF Board. Noting that Maharashtra has been buying milk from parts of Belgaum district on the state’s border with that state, he announced that the KMF will henceforth buy milk from these villages and arrangements will also be made to make Nandini products available in the Mumbai market.

Briefing about the discussions he had with a delegation from Australia on Monday, he explained that the Nandini milk products will be sold to Australia in the coming months, and the state is also contemplating the desirability of importing certain milk products from that country.