Times Agricultural Journal

Tonic for Kerala's milk

NDDB aims to develop Kerala as the first disease-free zone in the Indian dairy sector

Kerala has a dairy ‘in-milk’ population of 7.56 lakh crossbred, and an indigenous stock of 1.96 lakh milch animals. The total milk production of the state is approximately 56 lakh litre per day with an average per capita availability of 175 g per day. Along with the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, popularly called Milma, NDDB aims to bring about a 30 per cent increase in the daily milk production through a concerted effort in animal health management and improving the quality of milk. A robust disease control programme is also being put in place to achieve a ‘disease-free zone’ status according to WTO (World Trade Organisation) and Codex requirements.

For a diisease-free zone
To achieve a ‘Disease Free Zone’ status, milch animals in any given geographic area should be disease-free for two consecutive years. Economic significance of diseases has largely gone unnoticed as rearing of milch animals is still confined to the unorganized sector and is small by comparison to the huge dairy entities in the developed world. The losses incurred due to the widespread foot and mouth disease (FMD) are estimated to be approximately Rs 4000 crore. Another disease, which causes maximum loss to the Indian farmer, is Mastitis, which is an inflammation of the udder. The annual losses caused due to widespread prevalence of Mastitis is estimated at Rs 1600 crore. Worse, Mastitis is zoonotic by nature, which means, it transmits to human beings.

As part of the specific initiatives that are being rolled out for Kerala, NDDB, through its extension workers and veterinarians, affiliated to various bodies, plans to mount an aggressive campaign to ‘contain and control’ such diseases. A programme of continuous vaccination and monitoring the health of the cattle will be undertaken for a period of two years. Field veterinarians are being trained and existing veterinary labs are being equipped to do the needful. Not just the animals ‘in milk’ but also others in the bovine category, like dry animals, sheep, goats, buffaloes, indigenous and crossbred cattle would be taken care of, as these are potential carriers of the disease.

Support provided for Kerala Milk Unions

Following support would be provided to the Milk Unions of Kerala for achieving the targeted milk procurement of 8.42 lakh kilo per day

Organisation of new District Cooperative Societies (DCS)
Revival of defunct DCS
Supply of electronic milkotesters
Reorganisation of existing milk routes for cost effectiveness
Launching awareness campaign for members for enhancing pourer percentage (presently pourer percentage of milk unions varies between 16 per cent to 22 per cent).

Efforts would also be undertaken towards institution building by supporting milk unions at all levels. Milk unions would be encouraged to enhance women participation in dairy cooperatives. The activities would include training of lady resource persons, promoting self-help groups for women and other need based activities intended for nurturing women leadership.

Support under National Information Network

Studies to assess market share of dairy cooperatives, local consumption, quantity of milk coming from other states, marketable surplus
Initiatives would be undertaken to increase usage of computers.

Support under Quality Assurance measures

Conducting promotion campaigns for clean milk production
Route optimisation for reduction in transport time and quality of raw milk
Help for introduction of SS 304 milk cans
Automatic Milk Collection Stations (AMCS) and Bulk Milk Coolers (BMC) to be installed in the DCS with substantial milk procurement
Dairy plants, Cattle Feed Plants and Milk Chilling Centers to be assisted in getting ISO 9000-2000, HACCP & Environmental Management System (ISO-14000) accreditations
Dairy Plant Improvement Programme in each plant to bring about cost and energy efficiencies.

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