Kerala Milk Federation Calls Entry Of K'taka's Nandini Brand Into State 'Unethical'

Milma Chairman said cross-border marketing of liquid milk shall be avoided as it amounts to blatant encroachment of the sale area of the respective state.

Milma Chairman KS Mani also recalled the opposition in Karnataka for allowing Amul into the state.

The Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF), which is popularly known by the brand name 'Milma', strongly opposed the entry of Karnataka Milk Marketing Federation's (KMMK) Nandini brand into the state. Milma even went on to term some state milk marketing federations' entry to places outside of their states as "unethical".

On Friday, Milma criticised Nandini for opening outlets in Kerala to sell their products. Milma said that the entry to Kerala was a breach of cooperative spirit which till now served as the basis of the country's dairy sector. 

In a statement, Milma Chairman K S Mani, as per PTI, said, "Of late, there has been a growing tendency on the part of some of the state milk marketing federations to market their staple products outside their respective domain. This grossly violates the federal principles and co-operative spirit based on which the country's dairy co-operative movement has been built and nurtured by pioneers like Tribhuvandas Patel and Dr Verghese Kurien." 

KS Mani also recalled the opposition in Karnataka for allowing Amul into the state.

"But Karnataka Milk Marketing Federation recently opened its outlets in parts of Kerala to sell its Nandini brand of milk and other products. How could this be justified? Whoever does this, it is a highly unethical practice which defeats the very purpose of India's dairy movement and harms the interests of the farmers," Mani said.

He also said that this trend will only lead to unhealthy competition among states, which needs to be reined in with the Union and state governments coming together to evolve a consensus.

As per the prevailing agreement and courteous business relations existing among Milk Co-operatives, cross-border marketing of liquid milk shall be avoided as it amounts to blatant encroachment of the sale area of the respective state, he said.