Kerala aims to raise daily milk production to 1 crore litres in three years: V.D. Satheesan

Inaugurating the World Milk Day celebrations here on Monday, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan called for measures to increase the State’s internal milk production to 1 crore litres per day over the next three years.

For achieving this target, the UDF government will adopt measures to bridge the gap between production and demand, he said.(According to government data, Kerala’s daily milk production is 70.1 lakh litres per day, whereas the demand stands at 86 lakh litres.) Mr. Satheesan also stressed the need to ensure the availability of good quality cattle feed and expand the cultivation of fodder grass. The government will give priority to the Dairy Development department, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister Bindhu Krishna said World Milk Day highlights the importance of the dairy sector in ensuring food security, nutrition, health, sustainability, economic growth and livelihoods. She noted that the younger generation should recognise the vital role of milk and dairy products in promoting good health. The younger generation should realise the vital role played by milk and milk products in promoting health, the Minister said.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation declared June 1 as World Milk Day in 2001. Since then, this day is celebrated annually to acknowledge the importance of milk as a universal food. Additional Chief Secretary (Dairy Development) Minhaj Alam, Milma chairman K.S. Mani, chairpersons of Milma’s regional unions Mani Vishwanadh and C.N. Valsalan Pillai were among those present.