KOCHI: The State Government is exploring the possibility of setting up joint ventures with private companies for projects in the dairy sector. The Government is open to suggestions for such ventures and looked forward to NRI participation in them, said Minister for Civil Supplies C. Divakaran here on Thursday.

The Minister was inaugurating the Animal Husbandry Investors' Meet organised by the Veterinary Department at the Ernakulam District Cooperative Bank Hall at Thrikkakara.

The Minister said Kerala lacked an institution that could, through research and experiments, lead the State to self-sufficiency in milk production. Kerala did not have a veterinary university and hence, research in areas such as milk, poultry and fish production was handled by the Agriculture Department, he said.

Mr. Divakaran said the Government planned to integrate dairy ventures centred in Wayanad. The Government was ready to assist those who could chalk out proposals for integrated dairy projects.

The projects should include milk production and production of value-added items such as ice-creams.

Mr. Divakaran said he would convene a meeting to discuss the proposals.

He said Kerala depended on neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu for its milk and poultry needs.

Though Kerala needed 78 lakh litres of milk daily the State produced only 67 lakh litres of milk a day.

Similarly, Kerala imported 400 crore eggs annually as it produced only 100 crore eggs annually as against the requirement of 500 crore eggs.

Mr. Divakaran said he had asked the Poultry Development Corporation to double the production within a year.

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