Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today appealed to the cooperative dairies to support the farmers dependent on them by purchasing surplus cow milk from Andhra Pradesh Dairy Development Cooperative Federation Ltd ( APDDCF).
The Federation, at present, has a surplus cow milk of 1.13 lakh liters per day out of which 20,000 liters under “Vijay Vajra” is transported to the anganwadi centers. He also urged the management of Sangam dairies in Krishna, Prakasam, Visakha and Guntur to purchase the remaining surplus milk. “There is a misconception among the people that drinking cow milk would generate excess body heat but this is just a myth,” he said.
In the districts like Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, surplus cow milk production has been recorded and the intervention of the government is very much needed to ensure its total and proper use, explained the officials to the Chief Minister. In the districts of Krishna, Guntur and Godavari the demand for buffalo milk was higher than the cow milk.
The Chief Minister suggested that the Prakasam cooperative dairy purchase 15,000 liters and Sangam, Vishaka and Krishna dairies to purchase 10,000, 10,000 and 50,000 liters each. The remaining milk after purchase from the milk dairies will be distributed to anganwadi centers. Thus, Anganwadi centers would be supplied an additional quantity of 20,000 liters of milk. The CM also stressed on the quality of the milk supplied and said officials should encourage dairy farmers to supply fresh milk. He asked APDDCF management, officials and farmers to support organizations and train the farmers in marketing techniques.
The officials requested the Chief Minister to take steps to recover Rs.25 crore due from the Telangana State government and the Chief Minister suggested for a meeting by both the States’ chief secretaries. Naidu assured the officials that he would look into the request for releasing Rs 30 crores towards reimbursement to dairy farmers.
The meeting was attended by Agriculture Minister Pattipati Pulla Rao, Health Minister K. Srinivas and Joint Secretary to Chief Minister A.V. Rajamouli. (NSS)