Date:05/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/05/stories/2009010560090300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Incentives to societies for more milk supply

Special Correspondent

KOCHI: The Ernakulam Regional Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited will pay an additional amount of Rs.2 per kg of extra quantity of milk being supplied to it by primary societies for the period from January 1 to April 30.

About 2.65 lakh litres of milk is being sold daily by the Ernakulam region of Milma comprising Idukki, Kottayam, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts.

In addition, more than 10,000 litres of milk is needed for products such as ice-cream. The Ernakulam region collects 1.6 lakh litres of milk daily from over 750 societies.

The additional requirement of over 1 lakh litres is met by the supply from Karnataka Cooperative Milk Development Federation.

There is a 15 per cent decrease in the milk supplied by the societies during the current season.

The ERCMPU intends to encourage the dairy farmers by offering additional payment in the summer season, according to a press release issued by the chairman.