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MANGALORE: Though a milk deficit district, the Dakshina Kannada cooperative milk producers union limited (DKCMPUL) has been creating records year after year as far as festival sales are concerned.

This Ramzan, the union’s sales touched a record 3.49 lakh litres on August 7, which is 21,000 litres more compared to what it sold during last year’s Ramzan festivities. Raviraja Hedge, president of the union, told TOI that the union anticipates such sales during festivals and chalks out production plans to meet the demand. "We assess the situation every year and keeps stocks ready to meet the demands and live up to the expectation of the consumers," Hegde said.

With Nagarapanchami falling on Sunday, the union expects that there will be a demand for about 25,000 to 30,000 litres more milk than what was sold in 2012. The union’s procurement has also increased this year by 35,000 litres to touch 2.65 lakh litres, with the highest procurement being 2.75 lakh litres. Last year, while the average procurement was 2.30 lakh litres, it recorded a highest procurement of 2.45 lakh litres.

During Nagarapanchami the procurement decreases at least by 10,000 litres in the district as farmers keep milk for their use. We anticipate all this and make good the shortfall with enough procurement from other district unions," he said. The union procures 2.45 lakh litres of milk from its 45,000 active members, which means a 30% shortfall considering the demand is in excess of 3.05 lakh lakh litres per day here. Last year the deficit was close to 35%. Hegde said various factors have helped them increase the procurement this year. This include the union’s own schemes, the support base price of Rs 24 per kilogram of milk and the 50 paisa incentive.

Another reason could be the near stoppage of animal movements from here to Malnad and Shimoga regions after the places recorded milk glut and resultant reduction of procurement prices. When there is a good price Shimoga farmers procure livestock from here. An added advantage to the farmers there is the availability of good quality fodder unlike us," he said. Hegde added that annually there is a movement of about 10,000 cows from this region which has stopped altogether.