Of contents and standard of milk sold in the State
Milma’s affidavit in the Kerala High Court that its milk sachets contain reconstituted skimmed milk powder seems to have raised many an eyebrow.
Jino G. Maliyakal, State secretary, Kerala Aggressive Dairy Farmers Association, wants the government to come out with a definition of milk in this context.
‘‘This is a serious issue affecting future generations. Whether the milk supplied by dairy farmers to Milma (Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd) and other agencies comes under the definition of milk is another question. The government has to take into consideration all types of milk, including milk sachets of Milma and other agencies as well as the milk supplied by farmers. Also, whether there is mix of cow, buffalo, and goat milk in the milk that consumers get is a natural question,’’ he says.
Another question, according to him, is that the State’s milk production is 22 lakh litres a day (marketed by Milma and other agencies). But the maximum demand is 60 lakh litres a day (during festival seasons such as Onam). So what kind of milk is brought in to meet the demand gap, he asks.
SNF, fat contents
According to Mr. Maliyakal, Milma’s affidavit says that the milk from crossbred cows in the State contains a lower SNF (solid non-fat) content and that if skimmed milk powder is not added, toned and double-toned milk within the standards prescribed in the Food Safety Standard Regulations could not be produced in Kerala.
‘‘It is true that the milk of cows in Kerala will not have a regular percentage of SNF and fat. The SNF and fat contents of milk supplied by farmers to Milma are tested in its laboratories. Milma will not naturally reveal the real fat and SNF contents as it will have to pay more price for more fat content. Then how is such content being really analysed in the State,’’ he asks. Dairy farmers, on the other hand, are finding the going very tough. The Planning Commission itself has listed dairy farming as an allied sector of agriculture. So the dairy farmer gets loan only at 12 per cent, compared to 4 per cent for agriculture, Mr. Maliyakal said.
Mechanisation
He points out that the solution of mechanisation being touted for labour shortage cannot be viable for small dairy farmers.
A huge investment will not be possible for such farmers.
G. Krishnakumar, who has around 15 cows, says he had installed large machines which could milk four cows at a time, but the electricity charges are too high.
Mr. Maliyakal points out the cluster approach as a solution to the dairy farmer’s woes. In this approach, cow or other animal rearing is considered as milk production unit, cow urine and cow dung and its various uses come under another unit, production of grass another unit, and selling of milk and milk products yet another unit. All these units will be independent but function as a single cluster, he says.
Milma’s affidavit in the Kerala High Court that its milk sachets contain reconstituted skimmed milk powder seems to have raised many an eyebrow.
Jino G. Maliyakal, State secretary, Kerala Aggressive Dairy Farmers Association, wants the government to come out with a definition of milk in this context.
‘‘This is a serious issue affecting future generations. Whether the milk supplied by dairy farmers to Milma (Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd) and other agencies comes under the definition of milk is another question. The government has to take into consideration all types of milk, including milk sachets of Milma and other agencies as well as the milk supplied by farmers. Also, whether there is mix of cow, buffalo, and goat milk in the milk that consumers get is a natural question,’’ he says.
Another question, according to him, is that the State’s milk production is 22 lakh litres a day (marketed by Milma and other agencies). But the maximum demand is 60 lakh litres a day (during festival seasons such as Onam). So what kind of milk is brought in to meet the demand gap, he asks.
SNF, fat contents
According to Mr. Maliyakal, Milma’s affidavit says that the milk from crossbred cows in the State contains a lower SNF (solid non-fat) content and that if skimmed milk powder is not added, toned and double-toned milk within the standards prescribed in the Food Safety Standard Regulations could not be produced in Kerala.
‘‘It is true that the milk of cows in Kerala will not have a regular percentage of SNF and fat. The SNF and fat contents of milk supplied by farmers to Milma are tested in its laboratories. Milma will not naturally reveal the real fat and SNF contents as it will have to pay more price for more fat content. Then how is such content being really analysed in the State,’’ he asks. Dairy farmers, on the other hand, are finding the going very tough. The Planning Commission itself has listed dairy farming as an allied sector of agriculture. So the dairy farmer gets loan only at 12 per cent, compared to 4 per cent for agriculture, Mr. Maliyakal said.
Mechanisation
He points out that the solution of mechanisation being touted for labour shortage cannot be viable for small dairy farmers.
A huge investment will not be possible for such farmers.
G. Krishnakumar, who has around 15 cows, says he had installed large machines which could milk four cows at a time, but the electricity charges are too high.
Mr. Maliyakal points out the cluster approach as a solution to the dairy farmer’s woes. In this approach, cow or other animal rearing is considered as milk production unit, cow urine and cow dung and its various uses come under another unit, production of grass another unit, and selling of milk and milk products yet another unit. All these units will be independent but function as a single cluster, he says.
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