Kochi: Milk from neighbouring states is flowing into Kerala without any quality check after the recent price hike by Milma (Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd), the largest milk supplier in the state. Vendors and private dairies in border villages have been taking advantage of the low procurement price prevailing in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and the high market price in Kerala.
“Several private dairies and vendors based in the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border areas are buying milk at a cheaper rate and selling it at the market price in Kerala which is a real threat to Milma. However, the branded suppliers from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are selling milk and milk products as per norms and in compliance with quality standards,” said P.T Gopala Kurup, Milma chairman.
Scores of branded and other private milk suppliers from neighbouring states pose a threat to the three regional co-operative milk producers' unions in Kozhikode, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram under Milma and also to the livelihood of lakhs of dairy farmers.
There is a difference of more than Rs 4 in the procurement price of milk in Kerala and neighbouring states. Private dairies are giving higher commission to the suppliers by giving higher commission. “While Milma gives only four per cent commission, these dairies give very high margin,” added the Milma chairman.
Even Milma officials admit that outside milk is high in demand in Malabar and border areas and that there is no mechanism to check its quality.
