KMF to up milk output sharply

The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), which presently occupies the second position in milk production in the country, intends to scale up its production capacity to 50 lakh kg by 2010.

KMF chairman H D Revanna told reporters here on Wednesday that Karnataka produced 30.41 lakh kg milk everyday, which is next highest after Gujarat. "We intend to invest Rs 250 crore over the next five years to enhance milk production. Our aim is to reach the 50 lakh kg mark, which is considered a milestone in the dairy industry," he added.

The Rs 250 crore investment will go into the setting up of new a dairy at Channarayapatna in Hassan district and upgrading the existing Mother Dairy in Bangalore. "These units will also manufacture dairy byproducts like toned milk, chocolates and confectionery," he said.

There are 13 milk federations under which 10,081 milk producers' societies are registered in the state. "Approximately, 8,626 societies are in active operation and 97 per cent of them are making profits.

This is a rare achievement. All these societies and milk federations operate under the aegis of KMF. Our annual turnover has crossed Rs 1,753 crore," Revanna stated.

The KMF sells 17.98 lakh kg milk on a daily basis while another 1.12 lakh kg is converted into curds. "Our federation has been highly successful in globally marketing the dairy products. We export milk powder to Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, Oman, Nepal, Banglaesh and Madagascar. We intend to enter other markets shortly," Revanna said.