Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Saturday, May 06, 2006 |
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Agri-Biz & Commodities
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Dairy & Dairy Products States - Karnataka Boost dairy sector to develop Bagepalli: Study Our Bureau,
Recommendations Need to strengthen the supply chain. Increase shelf-life of liquid milk locally for bulk supply in the growing markets. Packaging of milk vital to cater to the neighbouring areas of Bangalore and Devanahalli directly from Bagepalli. Conversion of milk into long shelf life products such as milk powder, fat and basic foods.
Bangalore , May 5 The State Government should adopt a strategy that could harness the potential of dairy industry to transform Bagepalli, the most backward taluk of Kolar District, into a thriving region. Making this suggestion, the Confederation of Indian Industry (Karnataka) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) have said the State Government should promote dairy and agro-food processing industry with adequate irrigation facility in the region to mitigate the poverty in Bagepalli.
The challenge
The CII-PwC report has identified water scarcity and high fluoride content as the primary challenge facing the region impeding the well-being of people, agriculture and industry. It has urged the Government to take up drip irrigation in a big way. "Agriculture mostly depends on rainfall while the groundwater levels are extremely low due to over exploitation and the water table is very low. The paucity of water makes drip irrigation techniques imperative," the report said. Bagepalli has been identified as one of the 39 most backward taluks in the State for industrialisation under the Kaigarika Vikasa Scheme (industrial development scheme).
Milk yield
The CII-PwC report states that Bagepalli had significantly more livestock per capita than other parts of Kolar district. The composition of milch animals has also significantly increased over the last few years. It registers higher yield of milk per capita. The total milk procurement during 2005-06 was 1,00,000 litres per day and there was a scope to double the quantity in the next five years. Since milk was a perishable product, there was a need to strengthen the supply chain and also increase the shelf-life of liquid milk locally for bulk supply in the growing markets, packaging the milk to be able to cater to the neighbouring areas of Bangalore and Devanahalli directly from Bagepalli and conversion of milk into long shelf life products such as milk powder, fat and basic foods.
More jobs, incomes
The report suggested that a milk powder manufacturing unit could lead to the generation of over 1,000 jobs. The agro-food industry had the scope to improve agricultural productivity and incomes by modifying cropping pattern and moving it towards commercial crops. The available human resources, soil and terrain of the taluk were well suited for horticultural produce. This industry will create a strong financial incentive for farmers to voluntarily move to water saving technologies, the report said. The report also urges the Government agencies to speed up the proposed industrial estate of Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board at Bagepalli.
More Stories on : Dairy & Dairy Products | Industry Associations | Karnataka
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