The Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers Societies' Union Ltd has urged the Karnataka Government to allot land for the expansion of its dairy in Udupi district.
Speaking at the launch of Nandini Bite – produced at the Mangalore dairy of the cooperative – Mr Raviraj Hegde, President of the Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers' Societies' Union, said that the production capacity of Manipal dairy in Udupi district is 60,000 litres of milk a day.
However, he said, there is demand for more than one lakh litres of milk a day in the region. There is no scope for the expansion of dairy in Manipal. Considering this and keeping future demand in mind, Mr Hegde said, it is essential to expand the capacity in Udupi district to 1.5 lakh litres a day. The State Government should allot at least 10 acres in Udupi district for a new dairy, he said.
Dr V.S. Acharya, Udupi district in-charge Minister, said that the Government will look into the matter of the expansion of the facility in Udupi district.
He launched Nandini Bite in Mangalore market.
Dr Acharya said new innovations in dairy segment will help develop new products and market. Nandini Bite is mix of Mysore pak and chocolate, he added.
Mr Hegde said that there is good demand for Nandini Bite in the market. Nearly 100 kg a day can be produced at the Mangalore dairy.
Mr Hegde said that Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers Societies' Union has implemented a scheme for better calf-rearing practices under its jurisdiction. The scheme, to be extended for rearing nearly 5000 calves in the region, will help increase milk production in the region, he said.