From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Sep 29: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has complimented the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) for increasing the milk production in the State from 83 lakh litres per day to 92 lakh litres per day now and wanted the management to draw up plans for increasing the daily production to 100 lakh litres per day by June next year and also develop markets for utilising the higher yield.
He was speaking after inaugurating 11 different schemes by the KMF and also launching several products under the Nandini brand name at the Bengaluru Palace Grounds on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister asked the KMF to join hands with the government in its efforts to improve the lot of milk producers all over the State and also support the government’s drive to establish cattlesheds in all districts to protect the cows by taking up the responsibility of maintaining, ensuring feed supplies and arranging veterinary doctors to look after the cows.
Bommai praised his predecessor B S Yediyurappa for taking up the novel step to provide incentive of Rs 2 per litre of milk, which was later enhanced to Rs 4 per litre and is now at Rs 5 per litre. It was Yediyurappa government that the KMF by providing a grant of Rs 1250 crore for utilising the milk powder produced during the Covid period. These measures have improved the lot of farmers.
The Chief Minister said the KMF has emerged as a leading milk producer in the cooperative sector and asked the management to diversify into producing different milk products to utilise the excess milk produced in the State.
On the demand for enhancing the rates of milk to make help the milk producing farmers and the cooperative milk producing farmers associations, the Chief Minister said he is aware of the situation and about the rates in different States. However, it is a difficult situation to take any decision as various factors had to be taken into account.
Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chavan, Cooperative Minister S T Somashekar, Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, KMP Chairman Balachandra Jarkiholi, BJP MP Umesh Jadhav and other leaders attended the function.
The B G Shirke Group of Companies Director R B Suryavamshi and Deputy Chief Executive Officer B G Sangle called on the Chief Minister and held discussions.