DKMUL impresses CM Siddaramaiah to release funds for fodder unit in DK

Mangalore Today News Network

Oct 13, 2016: Prospects of increased milk production and severe shortage of fodder are bleak matters currentl, the DKMUL, Dakshina Kannada Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union Ltd has urged CM Siddaramaiah to allot Rs 50 crore grants to set up a fodder unit in the district. The union which at present is procuring 3.70 lakh litres of milk in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts is all poised to touch the 5 lakh liter mark in the next five years, Raviraj Hegde, president, DKMUL said.

In a memorandum submitted to CM Siddaramaiah and released to the media here, Hegd said the union needs an average of 10000 metric tonnes of cattle fodder each month to meet the 5 lakh litre milk production target each day. At present, DKMUL is sourcing 6300 metric tonnes of cattle fodder from Karnataka Milk Federation, the parent body. There is acute scarcity of quality cattle fodder in the open market to meet the anticipated shortfall, Hegde pointed out.

The state government therefore should extend its support to DKMUL to set up a cattle fodder unit of 350 metric tonnes capacity to meet the shortfall, he said adding that the government should sanction 5 acres of land for the purpose free of cost. The government should also provide a grant of Rs 50 crore to set up godown for the raw material as well as procure plant and machinery for the unit. Such a move will immensely help milk producing farmers here and improve the production.