Kerala to support youths, NRIs coming to dairy sector

Kerala’s Minister for Dairy Development Adv K Raju has said that the state government will take necessary steps to safeguard the interests of the youngsters and NRIS, who enter the dairy sector for the first time.

Mr. Raju was speaking while distributing the benefits from Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cooperative Milk Producers Union (TRCMPU) of Milma to dairy farmers in four southern districts at the Press Club here.

TRCMPU disbursed Rs.3 crore to milk producers as additional price on milk procured from them, and Rs.1 crore as special incentive to the primary milk societies. The financial commitment of both these benefits will be met from the profit that the Thiruvananthapuram Regional Union earned during 2019-20.

In his address, the Minister said, “Lots of youths, including NRIs, who lost their jobs after the outbreak of Covid-19, have entered the dairy sector. Some of them have also started new farms. This is a good sign as far as the dairy sector is concerned.”

Mr. Raju said that new packages to keep them permanently engaged in the sector will also be considered. “There is a huge increase in the number of cattle in the state and milk production has touched an all-time record. The Malabar region has surplus milk production while Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram regions are following the same path. In such a favourable situation, the government has decided to set up a milk powder plant in Malabar,” he said.

Mr. Raju gave away the benefits to Mr. J.S. Saju from Dairy Co-operative Society, Uchakkada, who was adjudged the Best Dairy Farmer, and Payattuvila Dairy Co-operative Society, which came first in Milk Production category.

The dairy farmers, who are members of milk co-operative societies in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts are entitled to these benefits. This latest component of incentive is in addition to Rs.1 crore disbursed to milk societies and their staff in May 2020.

Thiruvananthapuram Regional Union Chairman Shri Kallada Ramesh presided over the function. Milma Chairman P A Balan Master delivered the key-note address.

Malabar Regional Union Chairman K S Mani, Milma Managing Director Dr Patil Suyog Subhashrao IFS, Dairy Development Director Mini Raveendradas, Directors of Thiruvananthapuram Regional Union S Ayyappan Nair and Girish Kumar S, were also present.