New Milma Products Coming

The Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union (TRCMPU) will soon introduce the Milma brand of soda and chocolate as part of a move to diversify its product range.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, chairman of the union Kallada Ramesh and managing director Baby Joseph said the two products would be launched this year. The chocolate will be produced at the Campco factory based in Mangalore.

Mr. Ramesh said a dairy plant costing Rs.15 crore would be commissioned in Pathanamthitta this year. The Thiruvananthapuram dairy will be modernised at a cost of Rs.10 crore and a new products’ unit will be constructed with financial assistance from the National Dairy Development Board.

The union has taken up a project to ensure the purity of milk in the four districts under its jurisdiction. Another project is also being implemented under a programme to make Kerala self-sufficient in milk supply by 2011.

The union has earmarked Rs.2 crore for adoption of 4,750 calves in four districts. The adoption scheme is aimed at ensuring the quality of livestock and providing better facilities to dairy farmers in the four districts. The union has also embarked on a project to provide technical support and financial assistance from banks to entrepreneurs to set up mini-dairy farms in the most potential areas in each district. Also on the anvil is a scheme to procure milking machines.