Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Cabinet to decide on milk price hike

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet would shortly decide on increase in milk prices in the State, said Minister for Food and Civil Supplies C. Divakaran here on Saturday.

Talking to mediapersons after launching the second phase of the Gosurakha scheme, the Minister said the Kerala State Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation had sought an increase of Rs. 2 a litre. The Cabinet would decide on the quantum of increase to be permitted. An increase was unavoidable considering the losses of the Federation. The losses were caused mostly from import of milk, he said.

Mr. Divakaran also announced that the State Civil Supplies Corporation would avail itself of a loan of Rs. 200 crore to fund paddy procurement. A scheme will be implemented for upgradation of the ration shops. An investment of Rs. 50,000 per shop was envisaged, he said.

Earlier, the Minister handed over cheque for Rs. 50 lakh to the Regional Manager of Oriental Insurance Company Eswara Kaimal as the first instalment of premium for the cattle insurance scheme.

The scheme, being jointly undertaken by the Dairy Development Department and the Kerala Livestock Development Board, will be implemented in Alappuzha and Palakkad in the first phase. It will be extended to other districts later.

The farmer will be required to pay only 50 per cent of the premium. The balance will be paid by the Board. The Centre had contributed Rs.3 crore.

Kerala was the first State to take up second phase of the scheme.

The release added that the premium was the lowest in Kerala. (It is 1.75 per cent of the purchase value of cattle for one year and 4.47 per cent for three years.) Premiums could be paid at the local branch of State Bank of India.

The policy would cover death or disablement of the cattle. The compensation will be only 75 per cent of the insured amount in case of disablement, including substantial reduction in milk production or injuries.

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