Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru/Udupi

Mangaluru/Udupi, May 15: The production of milk in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, which reached 5 lac litres during the COVID-19 period, has now dropped to 3.5 lac litres, and further down to 2 lac litres daily for both districts combined. Milk is now being procured and supplied from neighbouring milk unions. Experts attribute this decline to farmers moving away from dairy farming.

Milk production typically decreases every summer due to a lack of green fodder. However, in recent years, the number of dairy farmers has significantly decreased, and rice fields have been encroached upon by commercial crops, leading to a further reduction in milk production. It is not profitable for farmers to buy fodder from elsewhere to feed their cows. Consequently, milk production is decreasing daily due to the unavailability of their own land for fodder cultivation.

To mitigate problems for dairy farmers, the Dakshina Kannada Milk Union is providing fodder at Rs 6.5 per unit, which is available at Rs 12 when green fodder is scarce, and has allocated Rs 40 lac for fodder at a rate of Rs 10 lac per month. Union director Narasimha Kamath Sanur stated that subsidies have been given. Veterinarians and supervisors have visited societies with low milk production to train farmers. Guidance is provided even when quality milk is not available. Many measures have been taken to prevent aversion to dairy farming among farmers, and mixed breeding schemes have been encouraged.

Vivek, director of management of the corporation, explained that green fodder growers will receive Rs 10,000 per acre as incentives. Additionally, a mini dairy project and transportation costs for buying cattle will be covered if new dairy farming is started.

Furthermore, dairy farmers have not received government incentives for the past seven months. A letter has been written to the union government regarding this issue, but no response has been received.

There are 744 milk societies in Udupi district, with 53 thousand members supplying milk to these societies.

An additional 2 lac litres of milk is required. Milk is being procured from Mandya, Shimoga, Mysore, and Hassan unions at inter-dairy rates. This milk is 48 paise cheaper than the purchase price from local dairy farmers. The shipping cost is separate.

On May 13, 3.57 lac litres of milk were produced. The milk stock was 3.45 lac litres on May 7. The production, which was 3.3 lac litres a week ago, has increased over the past four months to this level. Previous production levels were 5 lac litres in 2020, 4.8 lac litres in 2018, 3.96 lac litres in 2017, 3.76 lac litres in 2015, and 3.6 lac litres in 2014. Currently, 4.24 lac litres of milk per day are needed for sale and other milk products.

Over the last four months, milk production has increased by 27 ,000 litres, though not as much as expected. Many measures are being taken by the union to address this issue, according to K P Sucharita Shetty, president of the DK Milk Union.