THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 4 June 2023: The Chairman of the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), K S Mani, has emphasized the importance of milk cooperatives adhering to the founding ideals of the co-operative dairy movement. He called for a re-dedication to these principles, which include building a robust and strife-free dairy sector within each state while refraining from inter-state competition.
In an article commemorating World Milk Day on June 1, Mani highlighted the significant role of milk cooperatives in India, which were established in the 1970s based on co-operative and federal principles. The goal was to achieve higher milk production, generate employment opportunities, and combat malnutrition.
India has now become the world's largest milk producer, largely due to the success of these co-operatives, which have upheld the interests of consumers and welfare of dairy farmers within their respective states. However, Shri Mani expressed concern over recent attempts by some milk federations to market liquid milk beyond their borders, straying from the founding ideals. Such activities could have serious consequences for the dairy co-operative movement as a whole.
He cautioned against milk cooperatives behaving like monopolistic firms, which goes against the spirit of cooperative federalism in India. This issue will be discussed at an upcoming meeting of the National Dairy Development Board, where strategies will be devised to counter this threat and uphold the cooperative spirit.
Dairy farmers in Kerala have expressed anxieties about the influx of milk from other states, compounded by rumors that milk prices from other states are lower compared to Milma, the brand associated with KCMMF. Shri Mani assured farmers that Milma has always prioritized their interests, as evidenced by recent price revisions that ensure a larger share of benefits goes to the farmers.
Mani also shared Milma's plans to increase the export of its products, driven by the nostalgia that expatriates have for Milma. The goal is to achieve self-sufficiency in milk production in Kerala, with the belief that wherever there are Malayalis, there should be Milma.
On the occasion of World Milk Day, with the theme 'Sustainable Dairy: Good for the Planet, Good for You,' Mani emphasized the importance of adopting sustainable practices in the dairy sector to mitigate the ecological costs associated with climate change. He also urged milk cooperatives to focus on producing and supplying sufficient quantities of high-quality milk, considering its nutritional value.
As the dairy industry faces various challenges, it is crucial for milk cooperatives to stay true to their founding ideals, promote cooperative federalism, and work towards the sustainable growth of the dairy sector while prioritizing the welfare of dairy farmers and consumers.
