Kotoor gets scheme to boost dairy sector

Kozhikode: The Kotoor grama panchayat has launched a scheme to increase dairy production through scientific methods along with women empowerment.

The scheme, ESMPH, (Enhancement of safe milk production for improvement of public health), which envisages modernisation of 300 farmers’ cow sheds, is a modification of the animal husbandry department’s model project.

“This is a joint initiative of the grama panchayat, district panchayat and animal husbandry department. The dairy farmers include 30 women who were selected as part of women empowerment,” said Dr P.P. Bineesh, vet at Kotoor veterinary dispensary. There are six primary milk cooperative societies in Kotoor which produce 3,000 litres of milk a day. The panchayat has 2,300 cows and 100 buffaloes.

 “Our major aim is the facelift of the cow sheds. The shed should be made a hygienic place where pure milk is produced. Milk storage kit would be given to all societies along with medicines and another medicinal kit for cows would be given. A monitoring committee comprising panchayat president, vet surgeon, dairy development officer, live stock inspector, medical shop pharmacist and others will review the work of all the societies,” said Dr Bineesh.

Earlier, another project ‘Mission Safe Milk Kotoor’ was piloted for the 150 dairy farmers under the Avidanallur dairy producers’ cooperative society in Kotoor.

 “The quality of milk has been affected by a minor lapse. Zero tolerance in quality will increase the demand of our milk and other value-added dairy products in the market,” said Kotoor grama panchayat president Sheeja Karangot. She inaugurated the ESMPH project on Monday.