Nandini Ghee is a product of the Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited (DKMUL) in Mangaluru. , Photo Credit: HS Manjunath
Consumers say that Nandini Ghee and Butter, manufactured and marketed by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), is in short supply in the market.
Sudhir Rao (name changed), a caterer in Karkala, said that due to non-availability of two products of Nandini brand in sufficient quantity, caterers have been forced to buy ghee manufactured and supplied by private players in the market for over a month. And butter has been forced to buy.
“Nandi ghee and butter are available only with a few milk dealers who have old stock. Most dealers do not have these,” he said, adding that the two products sold by private players are also in short supply due to high demand from consumers.
Ashok Kini (name changed), a milk trader from Kottara in the city, said he ran out of stock of Nandini brand butter a month back. Since then he is selling Amul Butter. Mr. Kini had only a few packets of Nandini Ghee. “The milk and its by-products supplied by the private market players are also not available in sufficient quantity,” he added.
A view of the DKMUL retail sales outlet at Urva Store in Mangaluru on Saturday. , Photo Credit: HS Manjunath
KP Sucharita Shetty, president of the Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd (DKMUL), admitted that there is a 40% shortage of the two KMF products across Karnataka. Hindu This is because of the high demand for milk and its by-products due to the festive season.
“The demand for milk under DKMUL has increased by about 20% since three months. This is due to temple fairs and other rituals and private functions like Bhoot Kola. Since Ramzan is also being celebrated now, there is a great demand for milk and its by-products. The demand for curd is very high due to summer,” said Mr. Shetty.
The President said that the daily demand for milk under DKMUL has now crossed four lakh litres. There is a shortage of 40,000 liters of milk a day, although the milk production of DKMUL is 4.28 lakh litres, which varies. Therefore, the shortage is being met by purchasing milk from the milk unions of Hassan and Mandya.
“The demand for curd has increased from 50,000 liters per day to 90,000 liters per day. The demand for buttermilk has increased by about 30 per cent under DKMUL.
Mr Shetty denied any link of short supply of ghee and butter to Amul’s entry into Karnataka. “The short supply situation is likely to ease in a fortnight from now,” the president said, adding that the balance in demand and supply could return by then.