Milk producers’ union observes World Milk Day

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 1, 2012: The DK District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Societies Union Limited observed World Milk Day in Kulshekar on June 1, Friday. The World Milk Day has been observed worldwide for the past 12 years, and the union is celebrating it for the second time. 

Addressing the gathering, K. Seetharam Rai, director of the union, said in his inaugural address that large-scale milk production was unheard of in the past. He said that things have improved now and the union has created around 7,700 new job opportunities for dairy farmers in the district and more than 40,000 families are selling milk at the dairy daily.

Ravikumar Kakade, executive secretary, said that people in DK consume 240ml milk per person while a North Indian consumes double that amount. He said that the union sells around 35 – 38 lakh litres of milk although the dairy produces a total of around 50 lakh litres. The rest of the milk is used for products such as lassi, buttermilk, curd, ghee, and butter. 

Delivering the presidential address, Raviraj Hegde urged that farmers must be paid well for the milk they produce, adding that 43,000 dairy farmers were providing milk to the dairy. He also said that the number should be doubled. Stating that the union is receiving 1 – 1.5 lakh litres of milk from other districts, he said that the DK milk union offers the highest percentage of commission to milk producers. 

The union then distributed flavored milk to Bhagini Samaj in Jeppu and Good Life Slim Milk to the Little Sisters of the Poor Old Age Home in Nanthoor. Besides, gold and silver coins were distributed to the winners of the Mysore Pak contest and dealers and distributors who have provided maximum business in each taluk were felicitated.