Latest news with #KeralaVeterinaryandAnimalSciencesUniversity
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Dishing out tasty treats made of milk
Megha Anoop Ever-tasted the sweet winter delicacy of Punjab called Pinni? Made with roasted wheat flour, sugar, ghee and nuts, the sweet can be sampled at the food stalls run by a bunch of college students in the city. Other than Pinni, one can also try other value-added products made by the final-year BTech (Dairy Technology) students of the College of Dairy Science and Technology at Kaimanam, near Karamana, at these stalls. The products include yoghurt, curd, gulab jamun, payasam, marble cake, cupcake, lassi, sambharam, butter buns, kulfi, paneer cutlets, sip-ups, carrot halwa, and ghee cookies. The college, under Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), encourages students to foster their entrepreneurial skills and apply their classroom learning to real-world production and sales through the university's flagship experiential learning programme, Vaibhavam. The students learn vital skills needed to launch and run a food business through this programme. In their seventh semester, the students receive seed funding to design, produce, and market the dairy-based products. With guidance from faculty members Rejeesh R., Shyam Suraj S.R., and Rachana C.R., they handle every aspect of the business. The early weeks of the semester focus on product selection, branding, pricing and creating FSSAI (Foods Safety and Standards Authority of India)–compliant labels. With the guidance of their teachers, the students craft a business plan for their venture. The whole operation takes 70 days. After that they open the stalls. K-LAIT Every year, a new brand name is coined for the venture. This year, the class of 12 students has named their brand 'K-LAIT', combining K (for Kerala) and the French word for milk. Pinni is a new addition to their product range and is in high demand. Yoghurt is also much sought after, reflecting growing health awareness among consumers. 'Earlier, we used to produce several fat-rich products,' says Dr. Rejeesh. 'But for the past two years, we are complying with the HFSS (high fat, sugar, and salt) mandate under the FSSAI which encourages reducing such ingredients while enhancing health benefits.' 'We also receive pre-orders at the stalls,' says Akshitha V. Antony, a student. Challenges too abound. 'Since it's a short-term venture lasting three-four months, we are not able to buy packaging material in bulk,' points out another student Vismaya Ramesh. 'As we rely on ride-hailing services for transportation, a portion of the earnings goes towards its cost,' says her classmate Devika S. Janaki. The stalls, the students say, are set up at various locations, including government offices, on the museum and zoo premises, and other colleges. A permanent stall is maintained at the BSNL Regional Telecom Training Centre (RTTC) at Kaimanam, where the college campus is located. The students also participate in expos and events. (The writer is an intern at The Hindu Bureau in Thiruvananthapuram)
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
World Milk Day: dairy sector requires support to meet global challenges
As the world celebrates World Milk Day on June 1, the dairy sector stands at a critical crossroads —balancing its crucial role in nutrition, rural livelihoods, and food security with the urgent demands of sustainability and climate resilience. This year, the focus of World Milk Day is on sustainability and climate resilience in the dairy industry. India, the world's largest milk producer, is increasingly pushing for sustainable milk production and nutritional security through the dairy sector. This industry contributes over 6% to the country's GDP and supports the livelihoods of over 80 million dairy farmers. Around 12-14% of agricultural income comes from dairying. India accounts for 24.64% of global milk production, says Dr. T.P. Sethumadhavan, former Director of Entrepreneurship at Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. With India's per capita milk consumption at 479 grams per day — far above the global average of 371 grams — the sector plays a vital role in ensuring national food security, he said. Low-carbon strategies 'Globally, dairy is under increasing scrutiny for its environmental impact, especially methane emissions. However, India's largely smallholder-driven dairy system emits far less than the heavily industrialised models of developed nations. As conversations around climate action, carbon neutrality, and clean food systems grow louder, India is pushing forward with low-carbon strategies, native breed conservation, and scientific innovations to future-proof its dairy economy, ' Dr. Sethumadhavan pointed out. Dairy production costs are rising sharply, with quality feed prices surging by 246% over the past three decades, while milk prices have climbed only 68%. In India, less than 28% of milk is handled by the organised sector, including cooperatives, leaving over 70% in the unorganized sector — where quality control remains a major challenge. Crossbred cattle are on the rise globally, with Kerala leading the way at 96%, far ahead of the national average of 30%. While crossbreeding boosts productivity, India is also focusing on preserving indigenous breeds. 'Disease remains a major threat to dairy production. In 2024–25, India's milk output dropped by 10% due to widespread outbreaks. Climate change, drought, and infections such as lumpy skin disease, foot-and-mouth disease, and mastitis continue to inflict massive losses—mastitis alone causes an estimated ₹14,000 crore in damages annually, ' he noted. India's dairy sector needs a focused support package targeting smallholders, women, and entrepreneurs, with aid for production, processing, marketing, and investments in quality control, disease surveillance, and technology. With brands like Amul expanding globally, the sector is evolving into a dynamic business hub. However, the push for A2 milk must avoid misleading campaigns against crossbred cattle. While A1 and A2 milk differ in protein makeup, the debate should remain grounded in science, not marketing spin, Dr. Sethumadhavan noted.
Hindustan Times
31-05-2025
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Monsoon preparedness workshop raises awareness on helping pets, communities during disasters
Wayanad , With intense rains continuing to lash across the state, a monsoon preparedness workshop was held in Kottathara hamlet in landslide-hit Wayanad district with the objective of boosting grassroots-level disaster resilience. Located in Wayanad's floodplains, Kottathara faces frequent floods and landslides. The 2018 floods claimed over 150 animals, highlighting the urgent need for animal-inclusive disaster risk reduction, as per figures. Noted animal campaigner, Humane World for Animals India carried out the preparedness training programme to raise awareness of the need to protect animals during disasters like floods and landslides. The workshop was held in collaboration with Kottathara village panchayat, the outfit said in a statement. The session was attended by 35 volunteers of Kudumbashree, the empowerment network, from flood-prone wards of Kottathara. The event, inaugurated by panchayat president Raneeesh P P, featured expert-led sessions on basic preparedness measures, hazard mapping, animal first aid, and evacuation. The training's educational objectives included identifying flood-prone zones, mapping potential temporary sheltering locations, forming a ward-based network of trained 'animal responders,' and distributing awareness materials in Malayalam and English, it said. Nayana Scaria, coordinator, Humane World for Animals India, said a well-prepared community is the strongest defense against disasters. Safeguarding animals is not just compassion but is vital for families who see them as kin and depend on them for survival, she noted. A special session was led by Dr Ratheesh from Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University , who demonstrated practical animal care techniques for emergencies. Lissy George, a Kudumbashree member who attended the workshop, said during the 2018-19 floods, they didn't know how to rescue the pets, and that had a serious impact on our community in Kottathara Panchayat. "But through this workshop, we've gained a clear understanding of how to protect animals during disasters. We learned about animal first aid, the disaster-prone areas in each ward, and the safe locations where animals can be relocated," the statement said, quoting her.
