Belgaum (Karnataka): The Belgaum District Co-operative Milk Producers Societies Union Ltd (BEMUL), which buys and supplies the highest volume of buffalo milk in Karnataka, has been hit by the Covid pandemic. The BEMUL has suffered losses of Rs 3 crores in two months due to the lockdown imposed in the neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Goa along with Karnataka. This has resulted in a significant reduction in the supply of milk from the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF).
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The neighbouring state of Goa relies on Belagaum for milk and vegetables. Popular in South India, KMF's Nandini Milk is the largest supplier of milk to Pune in Maharashtra. Milk is supplied to Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir from Belgaum as well. Previously there was a supply of 50,000 litres of milk to Pune and 35,000 litres of milk to Goa. Now, the supply is down to 5,000 litres to Pune and around 12,000 litres to Goa. The BEMUL has incurred losses due to market issues in the two neighbouring states.
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Around 38,000 farmers in the Belgaum district supply milk to BEMUL. So in the time of Covid, BEMUL is looking after the milk producer's interest. The supply of milk to the private dairy has stopped during the lockdown. But, Bemul is still buying milk from the farmers and milk producers. Also, BEMUL is clearing the bills on weekly basis through the local associations.
