KOCHI:
The Pulpally Milk Cooperative Society in Wayanad district of Kerala has won the 2023 National Gopal Ratna Award for excellence in the livestock and dairy sector. This is for the third consecutive year that an affiliate of the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), known by the brand Milma, is getting the coveted honour.
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala will confer the award on the occasion of the National Milk Day tomorrow at Guwahati. The award, which carries a purse of Rs 5 lakh, was decided from two lakh applications received online.
The Pulpally Society emerged first in the ‘Best Dairy Cooperative society/Milk Producer company/ Dairy Farmer Producer’ category. The achievement shows the strides Kerala has been making in milk production, Milma Chairman K.S. Mani said. “Our state is an exemplary model for others in the dairy
sector,” he added. “We maintain exceptionally high standards amid the state’s efforts towards self-sufficiency in milk production.”
This is the third consecutive year that milk cooperatives in Kerala is winning the Gopal Ratna award. In 2021, Deepthigiri Society in Ajunkunnu near Panamaram in Wayanad district emerged second, while the following year Mananthavady Society, also in Wayanad, won the first.
Only three months ago, Milma won effusive praises from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for its contributions towards developing and popularising ethno-veterinary medicines. In the 104th episode of his widely followed ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio address on August 27, the Prime Minister said: “The effort of Malabar Milk Union Dairy of Kerala is very unique. It is engaged in developing Ayurvedic Medicines for the treatment of animal diseases.”
Mani, expressing pleasure over the laudatory remark, then said such acknowledgements would go a long way in Milma’s steps to further strengthen Kerala’s
dairy sector. Gopal Ratna is one of the highest national awards in the field of livestock and dairy, instituted for farmers rearing indigenous livestock. It also encourages AI technicians and dairy cooperative societies/milk-producing companies/dairy farmers and producer organizations in the sector.
The awards are in three categories: Best Dairy Farmer Rearing Indigenous Cattle/buffalo Breeds; Best Dairy Cooperative/Milk Producer Company/ Dairy Farmer Producer Organization) and Best Artificial Insemination Technician. The amount for the second rank is Rs 3 lakh, while the third rank carries Rs 2 lakh along with a certificate of merit. The first two categories carry a memento.
National Milk Day is observed annually to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr Verghese Kurien (1921-2012), highlighting the significance of the White Revolution he spearheaded from 1970.
