Pathanamthitta Dairy to export Milma’s ghee

PATHANAMTHITTA:
Marking a milestone in its marketing outreach, the Pathanamthitta Dairy of the Trivandrum Regional Cooperative Milk Producers Union (TRCMPU) is all set to export Milma’s ghee, having secured the licence for shipping the product to foreign countries.

To start with, Milma will be exporting six-and-a-half tonnes of ghee to Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA, Canada, Malaysia and Mauritius.

Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development J. Chinchurani inaugurated the ghee export project at the dairy complex at Mamoodu (Thatta) here on Monday. K U Janeesh Kumar, MLA, presided over the function.

In her inaugural address, Chinchurani said the state government has envisaged more projects with the mission of attaining self-sufficiency in milk production.

Chinchurani said calf rearing projects will be implemented in all districts as part of making the availability of more cows and calves for dairy farmers. The Minister also called for adopting new methods in feeding system and rescheduling of milking intervals to increase milk production.

Commenting on the health of livestock, Chinchurani said the service of doctor-cum-conveyance has been provided to 29 Block Panchayats and all the Block Panchayats will get the facility by Onam as administrative sanction for Rs 14 crore has been accorded for the project.

Chinchurani congratulated Pathanamthitta Dairy, situated in Vallicode panchayat, on securing the export licence and said it reflected on the global standards in quality of its dairy products.

The Minister handed over the export licence to TRCMPU Administrative Committee Convener N. Bhasurangan on the occasion.

Janeesh Kumar said the export licence will be a big boost for the dairy from a rural area and dairy farmers, besides being an endorsement of the quality of products manufactured at the dairy.

Milma Chairman K S Mani inaugurated the district-level calf adoption project on the occasion. In his address, Mani said around 4,000 calves will be adopted this year as part of the project, envisaged at an outlay of Rs 5.5 crore.

Mani lauded TRCMPU’s efforts in securing the export licence and said apart from rural and urban marketing, Milma’s outlets will be set up in other states to sell Milma’s products except milk.

Noting that sale of milk alone won’t sustain Milma anymore, Mani said it is a proud moment that Milma’s quality products have takers abroad.

Bhasurangan, in his welcome address, said when the export of Milma’s products increases, dairy farmers are going to get the most of the benefit of it.

Presenting the report, TRCMPU Managing Director DS Konda said TRCMPU is planning to export around 110 tonnes of ghee in one year and about Rs 12 crore turnover is expected through it.

District Panchayat President, Pathanamthitta, Omalloor Sankaran exchanged the first export consignment document for exporting ghee to USA, UK and Canada.

TRCMPU Administrative Committee Member KR Mohanan Pillai gave away financial aid to dairy farmers who lost their livestock due to natural calamity while V.S. Padmakumar, TRCMPU Administrative Committee Member, distributed Milma Revolving Fund.

Grama Panchayat President, Vallicode, R Mohanan Nair; Block Panchayat Vice President, Konni, Smt Neethu Charlie; Grama Panchayat Vice President, Vallicode, Smt Soji P John; Animal Husbandry Department Joint Director, Pathanamthitta, Dr Ananthakrishnan C P; Dairy Development Department Deputy Director Smt Betty Joshua; and Senior Manager, Pathanamthitta Dairy, Dr R K Samuel were also present.