TN Dairy Minister Vows Recovery After 81 T Butter Spoils
Tamil Nadu’s dairy sector was rocked by the spoilage of 81 tonnes of Aavin butter worth ₹4.21 crore that had been procured from a Uttar Pradesh-based dairy earlier this year to meet festive demand. The large-volume butter consignment developed a foul odour while in cold storage, triggering quality control alarm bells and sparking a formal…
Advantage India, But Dairy Needs Policy Depth
India’s growth narrative is often framed around manufacturing, services and global competitiveness, but the real Advantage India lies quietly in its farm economy — especially dairy, which supports over 8 crore rural households and acts as the most reliable source of daily cash income for farmers. As highlighted in Down To Earth, India’s economic resilience…
Rajasthan Launches Dairy & Skills Drive to Boost Youth Self-Employment
The Rajasthan government has rolled out a comprehensive initiative to promote self-employment among rural youth by linking skill development, access to credit and dairy value-chain opportunities. Under the programme, young aspirants are being trained not only in dairy farming and milk handling but also in value-added food skills such as sweets, bakery and allied processing…
India–US trade deal: open doors with caution, quota shields farmers
In a nuanced take on the recently agreed India–United States trade framework, agriculture economist Ashok Gulati argues that while India has conceded some openings to U.S. agricultural products, the approach is calibrated with quota systems and protective safeguards to prevent a flood of imports that could derail domestic farm livelihoods. Gulati notes that India’s agricultural…
TN milk down as feed shortage hits output; Karnataka fares better
Milk production in Tamil Nadu is under visible stress as chronic shortages of cattle feed and rising fodder costs begin to bite harder at the farm level. According to field observations and official assessments, inadequate availability of quality green fodder and balanced concentrate feed has led to lower per-animal productivity, particularly among crossbred cows. Farmers…
SC Seeks FSSAI Response on Front-of-Pack Labelling; Dairy Sector in Focus
The Supreme Court of India has sought a detailed response from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on the implementation of Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) norms, as consumer groups and public health advocates push for clearer nutrition signalling on packaged foods. The court’s direction comes amid debates on how FOPL should apply across…
Rajasthan Doubles Dairy Infrastructure Fund (RCDFIDF)
Rajasthan has significantly stepped up its commitment to the dairy sector by doubling the Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund (RCDFIDF) from ₹1,000 crore to ₹2,000 crore in the State Budget 2026–27. The move is aimed at strengthening milk procurement, processing infrastructure and market access, with a clear focus on improving farmer incomes and cooperative…
Why India’s Dairy Needs a National Fodder Grid ?
Recently, I moderated the Farmer’s session at 52nd DIC. While deliberating on pathways for Kerala to move towards milk self-reliance, K S Mani, Chairman of Milma, articulated a compelling thought: just as the National Power Grid allows surplus electricity to flow to deficit states, India needs a National Fodder Grid so that fodder surplus regions…
Heritage Foods Refutes Ghee Supply Claims, Threatens Defamation Action
Heritage Foods Ltd has strongly denied claims linking its dairy products to alleged sub-standard ghee supplied for use at the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple (TTD), calling the assertions “baseless and defamatory.” The company said in a public statement that it has no contractual association with the Tirumala temple’s ghee procurement and warned that it will initiate…
Unilever Ice Cream Sees Turnaround in India; Focus on Growth
Unilever’s ice cream business in India — anchored by the Heartbrand portfolio including Cornetto, Magnum and Kwality Walls — is reporting a notable turnaround after a challenging period marked by pandemic-era disruptions and competitive pressure. The unit’s CEO said the business has regained momentum through expanded distribution, category innovation and strengthened operational execution, contributing to…