The State Government will adopt measures to ensure that dairy farmers get prices linked to the cost of production, Mr K.C.Joseph, the State Dairy Development Minister, has said.
Inaugurating the State-level distribution of aid under the cattle feed subsidy scheme of the Union Government at Muvattupuzha, the Minister said that steps were being taken for achieving self-sufficiency in milk production in the State during the 12th Five Year plan.
The State, he said, has registered a 25 per cent increase in milk production as the prices were increased by Rs 5 a litre. The prices were hiked after conducting a detailed study on the subject and the Government had decided not to appeal against the Court verdict that MILMA had the right to determine the price of milk.
The Government is of the opinion that dairy farmers should get remunerative prices for the produce so as to prevent them from leaving the sector. According to the Minister, the State was importing about 8 lakh litres of milk daily from neighbouring States. The quality of the milk being brought from other States was also a matter of concern.
The Government had sought extension of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to the dairy sector. The Union Government had given partial approval to the demand. The State Government will pursue the matter to get the demand accepted in full, he said.
The Minister also said that the Government has taken note of the problems being faced by the pineapple growers in the State and measures would be initiated to mitigate them.
Inaugurating the State-level distribution of aid under the cattle feed subsidy scheme of the Union Government at Muvattupuzha, the Minister said that steps were being taken for achieving self-sufficiency in milk production in the State during the 12th Five Year plan.
The State, he said, has registered a 25 per cent increase in milk production as the prices were increased by Rs 5 a litre. The prices were hiked after conducting a detailed study on the subject and the Government had decided not to appeal against the Court verdict that MILMA had the right to determine the price of milk.
The Government is of the opinion that dairy farmers should get remunerative prices for the produce so as to prevent them from leaving the sector. According to the Minister, the State was importing about 8 lakh litres of milk daily from neighbouring States. The quality of the milk being brought from other States was also a matter of concern.
The Government had sought extension of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to the dairy sector. The Union Government had given partial approval to the demand. The State Government will pursue the matter to get the demand accepted in full, he said.
The Minister also said that the Government has taken note of the problems being faced by the pineapple growers in the State and measures would be initiated to mitigate them.