Milkobike, NDDB's unique entrepreneurship programme in milking, may soon find its way to Kerala's dairy sector. It involves connecting a milking machine to the battery of a bike. The power generated is used to milk the cow.

The Kerala Veterinary and Animal Science University (KVASU) has proposed to launch the programme, which aims to woo youngsters into the dairy sector, while addressing the shortage of milkers.

Skill development

The programme was designed by the Indian Dairy Machinery Company, a subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board, as a skill development initiative.

TP Sethumadhavan, Director of Entrepreneurship, KVASU, who led a team to the NDDB, told BusinessLine that unemployed youth can act as milking operators and make visits to 20-25 households to milk cows on a daily basis.

The project also envisages clean milking in the State. There are instances where dairy farmers are compelled to sell milch cows due to a shortage of milkers.

KVASU has also signed an MoU with NDDB in this regard.

Initially, it has been proposed to launch 100 units on a pilot basis and part of the project cost will be met through bank loans.

NDDB is in the process of launching a cost-effective milking machine catering to dairy farmers in Kerala, he said, adding that the product cost is estimated at ₹75,000. Quoting figures, he said there are about five lakh milch cows in Kerala in the cross-breed category, whereas milkers constitutes around 50,000.

The shortage of milkers is affecting milching, as 90 per cent of the cattle are cross-breeds, which give more milk than ordinary cows. The national average of cross breeds is 23 per cent.

There are also plans to work with NDDB for joint entrepreneurship programmes in the dairy sector. The University will establish a Dairy Business School to promote dairy entrepreneurship and provide training of up to three months.

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