The Rs 53.93 crore facility would be set up in northern Malappuram district, using NABARD’’s infrastructure investment fund.
Kerala state is all set to get a state-of-the-art milk powder factory, at a time when the state dairy sector has faced grave crisis due to a dip in milk consumption after the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. State Forest and Dairy Development Minister, K Raju said that it had been decided in principle to form the multi-crore facility in association with the NABARD.
The Rs 53.93 crore facility would be set up in northern Malappuram district, under the MILMA’’s Malabar Regional union using NABARD’’s infrastructure investment fund.
Milk procurement, through co-operatives, has set an all-time record in the state and the excess milk has to be powdered and stored, an official statement said.
“There was a major crisis due to lower milk consumption during the time of COVID-19 pandemic. In this backdrop, the idea of having an own milk powder production factory was conceived on the instructions of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan,” the statement said.
The existing milk powder factory in the state has been non-operational for long due to outdated technology.
