Kerala Feeds honours top milk farmers at Veterinary Science Congress

Kerala Feeds to institute ‘Gau Mitra’ award for ensuring self-sufficiency in milk production

Kalpetta / November 17, 2023

Kalpetta, Nov 17: Kerala Feeds Limited (KFL) honoured three farmers today for topping the state-wide list of dairy farmers from whom cooperative societies procured the highest quantity of milk during 2022-23.

At the 15th Kerala Veterinary Science Congress and International Seminar here, Dairy Development and Animal Husbandry Minister Smt J. Chinchurani, honoured the three farmers — all of them from Wayanad district. Dr M R Saseendran, Vice-Chancellor, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, was present on the occasion.

The honours were bestowed upon Mohandas M.V., from whom Sulthan Bathery Dairy Cooperative Society procured 3,29,068.60 litres of milk, Beena Abraham (1,24,568.50 litres to Pulpally Dairy Cooperative Society) and Sindhu P.C (90,371.60 litres to Mananthavady Dairy Cooperative Society).

The function honouring the three farmers was held at Pookode, 15 km southwest of the city, as part of the Science Congress organised there by Indian Veterinary Association and College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences University at Mannuthy near Thrissur.

Smt Chinchurani said that Kerala Feeds Ltd has been instructed to give state-level ‘Gau Mitra’ awards for the best veterinarians in recognition of their services to milk production from next year. It will carry a purse and a memento.

The award will be given for the intervention of veterinarians for ensuring self-sufficiency in milk production, increasing production of milk, profitability to dairy farmers, scientific feeding pattern and utilisation of government funds for the benefit of farmers. An expert committee at the national-level will be formed to identify the best veterinarian, the minister said.

KFL Managing Director Dr B. Sreekumar, while lauding the farmers, emphasised the need for scientific feeding pattern to cattle so as to ensure better productivity in the dairy sector. “Amid the government’s aim to enable Kerala achieve self-sufficiency in milk production, the role of veterinary professionals is important,” he pointed out.

The 1995-founded KFL, which is headquartered at Kallettumkara near Irinjalakuda in Thrissur district, has a range of products that cater to different breeds of cows with the aim of keeping them in good health as well as better productivity and quality of milk.