NDP to start in state as pilot project

DHARWAD: Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) Chairman Somshekar Reddy disclosed that Karnataka will be the first state in the country where the National Dairy Plan (NDP), would be launched as a pilot project.After performing bhoomi pooja for a godown on the premises of KMF at Rayapur on the outskirts of Dharwad on Sunday, he said that as per NDP, at least one milk union will be set up in every village to empower farmers.He announced that KMF has been rated a standard brand in the international market and stands second as far as procurement of milk is concerned.Reddy also released 100 gram packets of KMF mysorepak and pedha on the occasion.He informed that the milk procurement has increased from 20 lakh litres to 45 lakh litres per day and that all efforts were being made to enhance the procurement to 100 lakh litres per day in the next two years.Reddy pointed out that last fiscal, KMF achieved a profit of `88 crore, which is an all-time high.He said: “KMF recorded an overall growth of 30 per cent this fiscal, whereas the overall growth of milk federations across the country was just six per cent”.KMF to Donate `5 crReddy announced that in view of severe drought in North Karnataka, KMF has decided to donate `5 crore to the state government for purchasing fodder.He noted that `4.5 crore is spent on the construction of the new godown at Rayapur, which aims to procure fodder from Maharashtra and supply it to milk producers in Hassan, Gubbi and other places.