Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady
Beltangady, Jun 2: Dairy farming in the coastal districts continues to show steady and sustained growth, with milk production rising year after year. Beltangady taluk has once again emerged as the leading contributor to the Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, which covers both Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
Among the 16 taluks spread across the two districts, Beltangady has consistently retained the top position in daily milk supply for several years.
A total of 756 milk producers’ cooperative societies are functioning under the union, including 411 in Dakshina Kannada and 345 in Udupi district. In Mangaluru taluk, 30 societies are active, including 15 women’s societies, with a daily supply of 9,555 litres.
Moodbidri, with 29 societies (six women’s societies), supplies 17,887 litres daily; Mulki, 19 societies (eight women’s societies), 4,427 litres; Ullal, 11 societies (seven women’s societies), 3,430 litres; Bantwal, 85 societies (20 women’s societies), 48,763 litres; Puttur, 59 societies (14 women’s societies), 27,106 litres; Kadaba, 41 societies (14 women’s societies), 34,356 litres; Beltangady, 87 societies (16 women’s societies), a leading 1,13,960 litres; and Sullia, 50 societies (17 women’s societies), 15,936 litres daily.
The total average daily milk procurement from Dakshina Kannada district stands at 2,90,420 litres.
In Udupi district, Udupi taluk has 31 societies (12 women’s societies) supplying 7,977 litres daily; Brahmavar 80 societies (31 women’s societies), 31,461 litres; Kapu 31 societies (six women’s societies), 8,454 litres; Kundapur 82 societies (25 women’s societies), 45,284 litres; Byndoor 34 societies (11 women’s societies), 18,272 litres; Hebri 26 societies (five women’s societies), 11,608 litres; and Karkala 61 societies (12 women’s societies), 27,824 litres.
Udupi district records a total average daily milk collection of 1,50,880 litres.
Strong cooperative infrastructure
Several societies operate from their own buildings, reflecting the strength of the cooperative network. These include 21 in Mangaluru, 22 in Moodbidri, 15 in Mulki, five in Ullal, 56 in Bantwal, 39 in Puttur, 23 in Kadaba, 65 in Beltangady, 27 in Sullia, 17 in Udupi, 57 in Brahmavar, 25 in Kaup, 56 in Kundapur, 19 in Byndoor, 19 in Hebri and 40 in Karkala.
Modern infrastructure has further strengthened procurement efficiency. Dakshina Kannada district has 98 Bulk Milk Coolers, while Udupi has 57. Electronic Milk Testers are installed at 402 centres in Dakshina Kannada and 340 in Udupi, while Automatic Milk Collection Units function at 404 centres in Dakshina Kannada and 343 in Udupi.
Strong farmer base and women participation
Dakshina Kannada district has a total of 84,872 members, of whom 29,092 actively supply milk. Udupi district has 69,218 members, including 21,870 active milk suppliers.
Women play a significant role in the dairy sector, with 14,170 women members in Dakshina Kannada and 14,849 in Udupi district. Beltangady taluk alone has 18,622 members, of whom 10,115 supply milk daily, making it the highest contributing taluk.
“Milk production is increasing every year. Among all the taluks in the two districts, Beltangady continues to supply the highest quantity of milk to the union. The encouragement provided by the Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project and dairy loans offered by the District Central Cooperative Bank at zero and three per cent interest rates have proved to be a boon for dairy farmers,” said Raviraj Hegde, president of the Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union, Mangaluru.