Dairy Farmers in Kerala Must Prepare for the Second White Revolution: Union Minister George Kurian

KOCHI:
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying George Kurian today called upon institutions, including Milma, to take the lead in preparing dairy farmers in Kerala for the second White Revolution announced by the Prime Minister.

Inaugurating the NDDB CALF Food Testing Laboratory, a joint initiative of the National Dairy Development Board and Milma (the Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation), Kurian said the establishment of such a laboratory of international standard in Kerala marks a significant achievement for the state’s dairy farmers.

Realised at a cost of Rs eight crore and fully funded by the Central Government, the NDDB CALF (Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food) laboratory is located adjacent to the Milma Ernakulam Regional Union office at Edappally.

As the country gears up for the second White Revolution, the minister noted that there would be healthy competition among dairy cooperatives across states, and expressed confidence that Kerala would be able to emerge as a frontrunner.

Presiding over the function, Hibi Eden, MP, said the dairy farming sector should be included under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). Following recent legislative amendments, the state government would be able to take a decision on this matter, he said, adding that Milma could exert pressure on the state government in this regard.

NDDB Chairman Dr Meenesh C. Shah described the launch of the laboratory as a major milestone in strengthening the country’s food quality and safety systems. As a wholly owned subsidiary of NDDB, the laboratory would play a decisive role in ensuring trust, technological excellence and competitiveness in the market, he added.

The facility has been established as a State Central Laboratory under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) with financial assistance from the Central Government. The centre operates with the same quality benchmarks, international standards and professional practices as other leading laboratories in the country.

Milma Chairman K S Mani delivered the welcome address, while C N Valsalan Pillai, Chairman of ERCMPU, proposed the vote of thanks.

Those present at the function included Jamal Manakkadan, Chairman of Kalamassery Municipality; Asif K Yusuf, Managing Director of Milma; Dr Rajesh Nair, Managing Director of NDDB CALF; Mani Viswanath, Chairperson of TRCMPU; Wilson J Puravakkattu, Managing Director of ERCMPU; and K C James, Managing Director of MRCMPU.

The laboratory holds accreditations such as ISO/IEC 17025, and is also approved by agencies, including NABL and FSSAI. Equipped with advanced analytical facilities and staffed by expert scientists, the lab offers comprehensive testing of milk and milk products, including microbiology, wet chemistry, residues and contaminants. Its services will benefit both the cooperative and private sectors.

While the laboratory will initially focus on the testing needs of Kerala’s dairy sector, its services will also be available to other food entrepreneurs in the state. In a phased manner, the scope of testing will be expanded to include fruits, vegetables, spices, fish, bakery products, ready-to-eat foods and rice. In addition to Kerala, the laboratory will cater to testing requirements from neighbouring states as well.

Beyond testing services, the Centre also aims to enhance technical excellence in the food sector by organising specialised training programmes for employees of cooperative institutions, professionals in the field and students.

Through science-based interventions, the laboratory reflects NDDB’s and Milma’s commitment to supporting farmers and the cooperative movement, ensuring safe and high-quality food, and safeguarding public health.