Kerala Seeks More Milk Supply from Karnataka

Kerala has sought Karnataka’s intervention to restore milk supplies from the neighbouring state, as a decline in availability has created concerns for Kerala’s dairy sector. Kerala Dairy Development Minister Bindu Krishna submitted a memorandum to Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in Bengaluru, seeking measures to increase milk supplies to Kerala.

Kerala has been depending significantly on Karnataka to meet part of its requirements for milk and dairy products. According to the minister, the availability of milk from Karnataka has declined sharply in recent times, affecting the state’s dairy sector.

Kerala Seeks Karnataka’s Intervention

The Kerala minister urged Karnataka’s Chief Minister to take necessary steps to restore and increase the flow of milk from Karnataka to Kerala. The request comes as maintaining adequate milk availability remains important for Kerala’s organised dairy supply chain.

Karnataka has a large cooperative milk procurement network operated through the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and its member milk unions. KMF’s Nandini brand is supported by an extensive network of milk producers and dairy cooperative societies across the state.

Cross-State Milk Supply Under Focus

The development highlights the importance of inter-state milk movement in balancing regional demand and supply. While Karnataka has a substantial milk procurement base, Kerala relies partly on supplies from neighbouring states to meet its market requirements.

For Kerala’s dairy industry, any sustained reduction in external milk supplies can put additional pressure on procurement, processing and market availability. It also underlines the importance of strengthening local milk production alongside maintaining reliable inter-state supply channels.

Implications for Dairy Cooperatives

The issue brings the role of dairy cooperatives into focus, particularly their ability to manage milk surpluses and shortages across regions. Karnataka’s KMF, which operates the Nandini brand, has an established procurement and processing network serving the state and other markets.

For the southern dairy market, the latest development highlights how milk procurement, seasonal availability, inter-state trade and processing capacity are increasingly interconnected.

The immediate focus will be on whether discussions between Kerala and Karnataka can help restore milk supplies and provide greater stability to Kerala’s dairy sector.

Source: Dairynews7x7 15 Sep, 2026 Read full story here