Key Points
- Karnataka is now India’s second-largest milk producer, producing 92-93 lakh litres daily.
- The state has increased milk supply to New Delhi, with plans to raise it to 5 lakh litres in six months.
- The Ksheeradhare Scheme helps farmers by buying milk at Rs 32 per litre, plus a Rs 5 per litre incentive.
- The government is focused on ensuring fair pricing and stable markets for dairy farmers.
- Karnataka’s dairy sector continues to grow, helping support rural livelihoods and provide extra income for farmers.
Looma News
Karnataka is now officially the second-largest milk producer in India, surpassing several other states. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made the announcement during an event in New Delhi, where the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and Mandya District Cooperative Milk Union launched new Nandini milk varieties. Siddaramaiah credited the state’s growth to strong government support for the dairy sector, including measures to ensure fair pricing for milk producers.
In his speech, Siddaramaiah looked back on his time as Animal Husbandry Minister and KMF President, highlighting efforts to protect milk producers from unfair practices. One of the key steps was forming milk producers’ associations, which guaranteed fair prices and steady markets for farmers. Karnataka currently produces 92-93 lakh litres of milk each day, with 2.5 lakh litres of that being sent to neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
The state government also introduced the Ksheeradhare Scheme, under which milk is bought at Rs 32 per litre, with an added Rs 5 per litre incentive. When Siddaramaiah was Chief Minister, he raised the incentive to Rs 5 per litre, which costs the state Rs 5 crore every day. Karnataka’s daily milk production includes 1 crore litres from 16 milk unions, and the state has started sending 2.5 lakh litres to New Delhi every day. Siddaramaiah mentioned that this supply will increase to 5 lakh litres over the next six months.
The Chief Minister stressed that a stable and growing market for dairy products is crucial for the industry’s success and for improving the lives of milk producers. He also pointed out that dairy farming provides farmers with an important additional source of income. The New Delhi event was attended by several state ministers, including Venkatesh (Animal Husbandry and Sericulture), Cheluvarayaswamy (Agriculture), Byrathi Suresh (Urban Development), and Bhimanna Nayak (President of KMF).
