K'taka govt-owned BAMUL to supply 2 lakh kg Nandini ghee monthly to Tirupati temple, says no milk price hike for now

Bengaluru, April 29 The Karnataka government-owned Bengaluru Milk Union Limited (BAMUL) President and former Congress MP D.K. Suresh said on Wednesday that 2 lakh kg of Nandini ghee will be supplied every month to the revered Hindu pilgrimage centre, the Tirumala Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh, for the next six months.

Speaking to the media at the BAMUL office in Bengaluru, Suresh said that Nandini ghee has been supplied to Tirupati every year through Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF).

Earlier on Wednesday, the BAMUL President flagged off the ghee supply vehicles to Tirupati along with the Bengaluru dairy's directors and officials.

"We have secured the tender to supply Nandini ghee to Tirupati, and the contract is worth Rs 136 crore. Around 12.5 tonnes of ghee will be supplied daily for the next six months. BAMUL has entered into a separate agreement with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for this supply. Nandini ghee has earned a national reputation for its quality and taste," D.K. Suresh said.

He added that the digital lock technology has been implemented for transporting the ghee.

"The containers can be opened only by entering a password provided by us. We are ensuring similar quality standards for consumers as well," he said.

He added that the blessings of Lord Venkateshwara and Goddess Padmavathi of Tirupati have played a role in Nandini's success.

"Strict action has already been taken against those misusing the Nandini brand in the market. Complaints have been filed against such offenders," he said.

Responding to queries on a possible price hike, Suresh said there is currently no proposal to increase milk prices in Karnataka.

"We will study the market rates. There are certain shortcomings on our side, which we will address with government approval. The cost of packaging materials such as plastic crates and covers has increased. Additionally, purification chemicals are being imported. We will discuss this with KMF and decide the way forward," he added.

The BAMUL President added that private players have already increased milk prices by Rs 2 in Karnataka.

"As we are bound under the Karnataka government, we will bring this to its notice. Our focus is on delivering quality products," he said.

Suresh urged the media to promote quality products, saying that it would benefit farmers in Karnataka.

"We are currently procuring around 1 crore litres of milk and are planning to introduce more value-added dairy products in the future," he said.

He also noted that the Kanakapura Mega Dairy Plant has won the Confederation of Indian Industry Food Safety Awards for the third consecutive time, and congratulated the staff for maintaining cleanliness and quality.

"We aim to use more technology to deliver high-quality products. All directors and staff are working together towards this goal," he said.

Suresh added there is strong demand in the market for half-litre milk packs, which are priced higher than one-litre packs.

"There is no burden as milk prices vary across unions. Milk supply is expected to increase by 10 to 15 lakh litres with the onset of the monsoon," he said.

"Last year, the state produced around 1.5 crore litres of milk daily. We are currently procuring about 17.5 lakh litres during summer. Our target is to reach 20 to 21 lakh litres per day. We are focusing more on selling value-added dairy products than just milk," he added.

Explaining the preparedness for the ghee supply tender, Suresh said, "Storage capacity is crucial. We have been preparing for the past six months. Without adequate supply capacity, it would be difficult after securing the tender. Hence, we ensured readiness before bidding."

He said that BAMUL currently procures around 17.5 lakh litres of milk daily and aims to increase it to 20–21 lakh litres this year.

"Special training is being provided at milk producers' societies to boost production. Since January, we have been implementing programmes to ensure the birth of more female calves by procuring and using around three lakh semen doses. Training is also being provided on cattle health and growth, with dedicated teams monitoring the process," Suresh said.

"We are working towards bringing our product quality to international standards. We are also exploring new products such as indigenous breed milk, fat-free milk, lactose-free milk, and probiotic curd. Research is being carried out to introduce products suited to market demand," he added.

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