Khammam: Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts are not self-reliant in milk production. There is a massive gap between milk consumption and milk production in the two districts when one compares the details with that of per capita milk consumption.
These facts are alarming and officials in the animal husbandry department have been asked to evolve plans to make the two districts self-reliant in milk production.
As per the details available, the population of the two districts is 24.58 lakhs, including 10.69 lakhs in Bhadradri district. The current milk production per day in the two districts is 5.50 lakh litres, including 2.25 lakh litres in Bhadradri district.
The per capita consumption of milk in the two districts is 300 ml. It means that the people from the two districts consume 7.37 lakh litres of milk per day against the production of 5.50 lakh litres.
The two districts have been lagging by 1.87 lakh litres of milk per day. Milk produced by other districts and states, amounting to `23.57 crore per month, is being sold in the two districts. According to one estimate, the two districts have abundant of green pasture and the atmosphere is convenient for cattle rearing.
There are only 15 dairy units in both the districts against more than 20 in the other districts. Officials need to encourage the youth to set up more dairy units and need to sell milk directly to the consumers.
The population of milch animals needs to be increased from the present-level.
There are 4.21 lakh buffaloes and 4.5 lakh cows in the two districts. Interestingly, 80 per cent of these milch animals produce two to three litres of milk per day against the 10 to 15 litres being produced by other breed of animals.
It is estimated that 20,000 youth can be provided employment if the government encourages micro dairy units each having 10 to 15 cattle. Many people from the towns have been showing interest in procuring milk from these dairy units at the cost of `70 per litre.
K. Sravani, a consumer said, “I used to buy good quality milk at `70 per litre, but in Khammam vendors do not sell good quality milk.”
