Include Dairy Sector in Job Schemes: KFL Cooperatives

THRISSUR:
The stakeholders of Kerala Feeds Ltd (KFL) have made a strong pitch for including the dairy sector in employment guarantee programmes even as the share-owning cooperatives demanded new schemes and subsidies to strengthen the sector and remove its existing anomalies.

While expressing satisfaction over the quality of the PSU’S range of products, the 28th general body meeting of KFL, at its headquarters Kallettumkara near Irinjalakuda, observed that the company has been consistently manufacturing items that improve milk productivity in cows.

However, the policy on heifers warrants reinstation of its original form to resolve the lingering crisis in the sector, according to the representatives of the cooperatives at the meeting presided by KFL Chairman K Sreekumar.

The participants noted that a steady rise in production cost has been leading to a decline in the dairy sector. This slide must be stemmed, they added.

Managing Directo Dr B. Sreekumar presented a detailed report on the activities of KFL, which is the country’s only PSU working in the manufacture of cattle feed.

Other speakers at the meeting were KFL Director Board members K.R. Rajeev, Sidharthan Karipode, Milma ERCMPU Chairman M.T. Jayan and Animal Husbandry Under Secretary R. Sreerekha. KFL Secretary Vidya Unnikrishnan welcomed the gathering, while General Manager Usha Padmanabhan proposed thanks.

The 1995-founded KFL produces and sells compounded cattle feed and supplements at affordable rates. The PSU produces three varieties of cattle feed, besides feed for goat, hen, rabbit and mineral-rich Keramin and haystacks.