Andhra Pradesh government has changed the company that will be providing ghee used for the laddus at Sri Venkateswara temple. The decision came after a massive controversy erupted after lab reports released by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) revealed adulteration of ghee with animal fat and other contaminants.
The government has decided that Karnataka’s dairy brand Nandini will provide ghee to the TTD for the laddus. The supply orders have already been given to the company. Nandini is a household name in the southern states of India. While the company’s headquarter is in Karnataka, the milk is supplied in Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra. Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited (KMF), the country’s second-largest dairy cooperative, owns Nandini.
Historical Relevance Of KMF
KMF is the first dairy cooperative opened in Kodagu district in 1955. At that time there was no concept of packaging and farmers used to supply the milk to every household by themselves. More emphasis on KMF was given post-1970, when focus on milk production got increased. In January 1970, the ‘White Revolution’ started, which focused on the milk production. In order to implement the World Bank’s dairy projects, the Karnataka government formed the Karnataka Dairy Development Corporation (KDCC) in 1974. In 1984, the name of the Cooperation was changed to Karnataka Milk Federation. The company launched packaged milk and other products under the brand name of ‘Nandini’. Within a short span of time, Nandini became the most popular brand in the state, and its demand kept on increasing.
Limelight During Legislative Assembly Elections
During the Legislative Assembly elections of Karnataka, Nandini came into the limelight as the Congress promised to boost the production of the brand to 1.5 crore liters per day. Even the BJP announced to provide free milk of the Nandini brand to households in the below poverty line (BPL) category if it retains power in Karnataka.
