Meenangadi and Kunnamkattupathy Dairy Cooperative Societies secure first and second prizes in India’s highest livestock and dairy awards
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 17 November 2025: Two dairy cooperative societies under Milma’s Malabar Regional Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union (MRCMPU) have won top honours at the National Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA) 2025, reaffirming Kerala’s leadership in the cooperative dairy sector.
Meenangadi wins first prize; Kunnamkattupathy takes second
The Meenangadi Dairy Cooperative Society in Wayanad won the first prize in the Best Dairy Cooperative Society category, while the Kunnamkattupathy Dairy Cooperative Society in Palakkad secured the second prize.
The winners will receive ₹5 lakh and ₹3 lakh, respectively.
The 2025 edition of the NGRA attracted 2,081 applications across categories, making it one of the most competitive editions of the national awards.
Strong track record for MRCMPU
Dairy cooperatives under MRCMPU have consistently excelled at the NGRA. Previous winners include:
Deepthigiri Dairy Cooperative Society – Second prize (2021)
Mananthavadi Dairy Cooperative Society – First prize (2022)
Pulpally Dairy Cooperative Society – First prize (2023)
This continuous recognition highlights the Malabar region’s robust dairy ecosystem and long-standing cooperative excellence.
India’s highest dairy honour
The National Gopal Ratna Awards are among India’s highest recognitions in the livestock and dairy sector. They are instituted by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
The awards will be presented by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) on November 26, during National Milk Day celebrations commemorating the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, the architect of India’s White Revolution.
Ministers of State Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel and George Kurian will also attend.
Milma leadership hails achievement
Milma Chairman KS Mani, who is also Chairman of MRCMPU, said the recognition is a matter of pride for Kerala’s dairy farmers, especially those in the Malabar region.
“This honour will give an added thrust to the cooperative dairy sector and inspire more youngsters to take up dairying as a promising enterprise,” he said, while congratulating the leadership teams of both award-winning societies.
Society profiles
Meenangadi Dairy Cooperative Society
President: Shri Jayan P P
Secretary: Shri Mathew K B
Milk procurement: 17,500 litres per day
Kunnamkattupathy Dairy Cooperative Society
President: Shri Anand
Secretary: Shri Jayaprakash
Milk procurement: 28,500 litres per day