BELAGAVI
Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) President Bhalchandra Jarkiholi on Friday appealed to farmers in Belagavi region to give more emphasis on dairy farming, amid growing demand for ‘Nandini’ milk and milk products in Goa, Maharashtra and Belagavi region.
Jarkiholi was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the hostel building on the campus of Belagavi Milk Federation. A new boiler was also inaugurated on the occasion to enhance the milk procurement and packaging.
“Belagavi is ideally located on the borders of Goa and Maharashtra and is blessed with irrigated and fertile land, highly conducive for dairy farming. Farmers will benefit economically if they also focus on dairy farming along with agriculture,” Jarkiholi said.
He also informed that a new unit would be also set up near the National Highway to enhance milk procurement capacity and generate employment for about 300 persons.
A new cooperative bank would also be started for the milk cooperative farmers, he said.
Stating that about 50 girls and 50 boys would be offered free accommodation at the proposed hostel, Jarkiholi said this facility in Belagavi is the only second such facility after Bengaluru.
Jarkiholi said dairy farmers would receive benefits, such as a Rs 50,000 insurance compensation in the event of the death of a cow or buffalo.
The Bank of Karnataka Co-operative Milk Federation will soon be set up with a turnover of about Rs 17 crore. The price of milk provided by farmers will be fixed in the coming days.
KMF (Bengaluru) Managing Director B C Satish said a total of 875 milk producers' co-operative societies have already been set up in 14 talukas in the district. Of these, 616 milk producers' co-operative societies are in operation.
Two lakh litres of milk can be procured daily as Belagavi unit has a capacity of 1 lakh litres while 1 lakh litre units are functional in Gokak, Athani and Ramdurg.
He also informed that another 60,000-litre capacity milk processing plant is being set up at Raibag.
MLC and Belagavi Milk Union Chairman Vivek Patil, MLA Anil Benake, Karanji Math Swami Sri Gurusiddha Swamiji, Managing Director Srinivasan, director and staff members were present on the occasion.
