Kerala   

Promote dairy farming to increase productivity Peoplespeak

It is shameful to say that Kerala is going to purchase milk from Tamil Nadu. The quality of packed milk, except for a few brands, is very low. Milk production and marketing should be entrusted with local-level societies. Options like goat and buffalo milk should be explored. Agriculture scientists should try and develop high-yielding varieties of cattle.

Dipu Madathil

Malappuram

Kerala can tide over the present milk crisis only by increasing productivity and achieving self-sufficiency. Our dependence on other States should end. The problem should be addressed immediately. All other issues connected with this should also be worked out in detail. It is shameful to see that we depend on other States even to this day for everyday needs.

Kunhikannan

Koyilandy

Kerala becoming incapable of meeting its milk requirements is a sorry State of affairs. Going to Tamil Nadu for everything is a senseless act. We should go in for an Anand model milk production and achieve self-sufficiency.

M. Narayanankutty

Palakkad

To tide over the present crisis, the government should allow subsidies. In the long-term, the government should take sensible steps. It should promote dairy farming in a big way. The farmers should get a fair deal. The price should be fixed realistically — the cost of production and a decent margin should be kept in mind.

Madhavan Unni

Pattambi

The current milk scarcity in the State is the result of callousness and inefficiency on the part of those at the helm. The demand for a hike in the price of milk is raised, curiously, not by the milk farmers but by Milma. There is no justification for prise hike now. No hike can see Milma out of the crisis. The consumers should not be penalised for the ineptitude of the administrators. Milk production in the State has drastically dwindled for obvious reasons. Primary milk societies do not pay remunerative prices for the milk brought by the farmers. At the same time, milk farmers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are doing well with the support of the State governments. The Milma director board should be reconstituted. There should be persons of proven efficiency on the board. Political considerations should take a back seat. The Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Departments should devise ways to promote cow rearing. The establishment expenses of Milma need to be brought down. A thorough audit exercise should be taken up.

N.K. Vijayan

Kizhakkambalam

Supply of milk in our State is much below demand. The State has to procure milk from other places. Milk is an essential commodity and the frequent increase in price will affect the common man. Further, with more investments coming in the population is also expected to rise. Steps should be taken to encourage dairy farming. Hybrid varieties of cattle should be given to farmers. This will help in the overall development of the State as well.

Gowri Jayakumar

Kochi

Some twenty-years ago, almost every household in the State had a cow. It was deemed auspicious to keep cows. The number of cows indicated prosperity. The question of fodder did not arise as there was no dearth of greenery. Every household managed to get enough milk. Now people have practical difficulties in rearing cows. Finding fodder is a task. Thus milk production has also come down. If the government and departments concerned provide fodder at a fair price and encourage people to take up dairy farming, the problem can be eased to some extent.

V.P. Ramesan

Thripunithura

Milk is an item that can act as a complete substitute for food. It is a ‘sampurna ahaaram.’ Shortage of this vital item is of course a crisis situation. Milma’s move to increase the price of milk has evoked condemnation from all. The offer of Tamil Nadu to step up milk supply to our State is a welcome gesture. This cannot go on for long. Are we not responsible for this state of affairs? What prevents us from rearing cattle to enhance supply of milk and dairy products? This calls for a change in our mindset and attitude. Instead of sidelining agriculture and allied activities we must take up these as serious vocations. Agriculture and cattle breeding will go hand-in-hand. When we look back, we find that almost every family engaged in agriculture used to rear cattle. Admittedly, this situation cannot prevail now for various constraints. Still, we can move in this direction and spread the concept. Rural households must be encouraged to go in for cattle rearing on a large scale. Necessary support in the form of fodder, veterinary facilities and milk collection system should be provided.

T.N. Ramachandran Nair

Thrissur

The climatic conditions of Kerala are most ideal for the rearing of cattle and production of milk. This is particularly so in the eastern hill regions of the State abundantly blessed with lush vegetation. However, people are loosing interest in rearing of cattle because it no more gives adequate returns. Milma did commendable work in the early years in coordinating milk collection activities. It gave market opening s for farmers. Conditions have changed now and it is high time we reconsider Milma’s role. They should now pull out gradually from collection, processing and marketing of milk and other value added products. The role of Milma should be to facilitate milk production. They should progressively hand over marketing activities to private or cooperative enterprises. The market forces of demand and supply should govern the prices. Losses being incurred by the Milma are now an additional burden on the States exchequer. This situation will totally change if the above suggestion is considered seriously.

George C. Oommen

Padivattom

Kerala is approaching neighbouring States for rice, milk and vegetables. Even the workers come from Tamil Nadu. This overdependence will do more harm than anything. Why is the government not taking steps to enhance milk production? If sufficient help is provided to persons interested, the shortage of milk can be solved.

Neelandon Kuruvattoor

Ottappalam

Kerala has been experiencing a serious shortage of milk and Tamil Nadu’s offer to step up the supply would bring only temporary relief. Therefore, we should adopt long-term measures. The Animal Husbandry Department should breed hybrid varieties of cows for increased milk production. Government should provide adequate loans to farmers who are willing to take up dairy farming. Fodder production should be increased simultaneously. There should be a better coordination between the Diary Development and Animal Husbandry Departments.

Shreya A.S.

Thiruvananthapuram

It is a fact that we depend on others States to meet some of our vital needs. We have been experiencing a serious shortage of rice, vegetables and milk. Tamil Nadu’s offer to step up supply of milk holds out new hope. But we should not sit idle over such short-term solutions. We should put our heads together to find long-term solutions. Measures should be taken to increase the production of such items. ‘Ayalkoottam’ units can play a vital role here. If the State steps in and provides assistance in production and marketing, we can move ahead.

Athulya S. Kumar

Kozhikode

Increasing the price of a commodity to tackle shortage is not the solution. Milma should not increase the price f milk. It should find ways to increase milk production. It is true that Tamil Nadu has offered to increase milk supply. But this cannot be a lasting solution. The government should earmark sufficient funds for the purpose.

S.N. Thiruvazhiode

Poonithura

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