Milma Chairman KS Mani made Director of NCDFI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
K S Mani, Chairman, Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), known popularly by its brand name Milma, has been elected to the Board of Directors of the National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India (NCDFI), the apex body of dairy and edible oil cooperatives in the country.

The election was held at the Special General Body meeting of the NCDFI, held at Anand in Gujarat today. The NCDFI Board comprises representatives of the federal cooperatives of all the States and Union Territories, and is mandated to coordinate, network and engage in advocacy of all matters related to the country’s dairy sector.

Established 1970 as a subsidiary of NDDB, NCDFI primarily works for the promotion of dairy, oil seeds, edible oil, Vanaspathy industries and other commodities on cooperative line including the oil seed growers’ cooperatives and affiliated organizations.

Its activities include coordination of milk and milk products supplied to Defence Services, providing online market place for the dairy industry, and working for genetic improvement of cattle.

Associated to NCDFI are 27 State Milk Federations, 223 District Milk Unions, 1.96 Lakh Village Milk Societies and 173 Lakh Dairy farmers.

Application of technology to ensure better returns to dairy co-operatives and milk producers has been the primary focus of NCDFI. NCDFI eMarket was launched as an initiative based on this.

Mani took over as Milma Chairman in July last year, following the death of the then KCMMF chairman PA Balan Master.

A highly accomplished management expert and a veteran cooperator with decades of hands-on experience in the dairy sector, Shri Mani is also the chairman of the Malabar Regional Cooperative Milk Producers Union.

His business acumen and empathy for dairy farmers came in handy in steering Milma unscathed through the grim challenge posed by the staggered Covid-19 pandemic.

Hailing from Palakkad district, Mani has over three decades of experience in cooperative movement. He had served on the Government appointed committee of the Malabar Union during 2019-20 and on the Directors’ Board of the Malabar Union from 2003 to 2008. Shri Mani is the President of the Ennapadam Milk Co-operative Society in Palakkad.

Besides playing a central role in maintaining the market dominance of Milma’s fresh milk and other dairy staples, Shri. Mani’s deep market insight was behind the successful launch of a bouquet of value-added items.

A Post-graduate in Commerce from Madurai Kamaraj University, Shri Mani’s managerial expertise has been recognized by the state and central government by nominating him on various panels.

He had served as the Southern Region Chairman of the Engineering Exports Promotion Council (EEPC) under the Union Commerce Ministry. He also served as member of the Calicut University Senate and President of Palakkad Management Association and Rotary Club.

Honours received by Shri Mani for contributions to entrepreneurship development and cooperative movement included EEPC’s Star Performer Award in 2010 and 2016 and the Southern Regional Award in 2013.