Shortage of labour due to a viral epidemic in Kerala is affecting milk supply in the state in a big way. Cows, buffaloes and goats are getting sold off in Kerala as there are not enough workers to milk them.
At a season when Milma (Kerala?s staple milk co-operative) usually confronts a problem of plenty translating surpluses to milk powder, it is forced to import 3.5 lakh litres to 5.5 lakh litres per day from dairies in Karnataka and Kerala.
There is a shortage of at least 80,000 litres per day, Milma sources told FE.
?It?s the first time in living memory that Kerala has been showing up a milk-deficit round the year. Although, the yield from its milchcow crossbreeds has never been the best, August-September has always been spring in Kerala dairies,? says dairy management expert Satish Kumar.
The severity of the mosquito-spread viral fever has been such that the joint pains and fatigue in fever aftermath have dented the labour supply. Even family labour for milking is scant, in some areas like Pattanamtitta.
Incidentally, Pattanamtitta was where, along with Wayanad, dairy production had registered an unusual high last year.
About 11 dairies in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are the chief gainers from the mosquito?s orgy in Kerala.
Milk is sourced to meet Kerala’s Onam season demand from Mysore, Hassan, Wadhy, Thumkur, Chittoor in Karnataka and Dindigal, Erode, Trichi, Salem, Virudunagar in Tamil Nadu on whopping price of Rs 14.5 per litre.
There is also the transportation costs of Rs 2 per litre to be factored in. At the same time, the southern dairies are also facing a high profile acid test of quality.
Panicky of a potential festival season scandal, Kerala government has installed strict quality vigil on milk supply at state border checkposts.
