Karnataka Co-operative Milk Producers Federation

Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Limited (KMF) is the Apex Body for the dairy co-operative movement in Karnataka. It is the second-largest dairy co-operative amongst the dairy cooperatives in the country. In South India, it stands first in terms of procurement as well as sales. One of the core functions of the Federation is the marketing of Milk and Milk Products. The Brand "Nandini" is the household name for Pure and Fresh milk and milk products. KMF has 14 Milk Unions covering all the districts of the State which procure milk from Primary Dairy Cooperative Societies(DCS) and distribute milk to the consumers in various Towns/Cities/Rural markets in Karnataka. Karnataka Dairy Development Cooperation(KDDC), the first-ever World Bank/ International Development Agency funded Dairy Development Program in the country started in Karnataka on co-operative lines with the organization of Village Level Dairy Co-operatives in 1974. The AMUL pattern of dairy co-operatives started functioning in Karnataka from 1974-75 with the financial assistance from World Bank/IDA, Operation Flood II & III. The Anand Pattern three-tier organization structure – Dairy Cooperative Societies at the village level, District Milk Unions at the District level to take care of the procurement, processing, and marketing of milk and provide technical input services for enhancing milk production at producers level and Federation at the state level to co-ordinate the growth of the sector in the State, are resolutely and harmoniously working hand-in-hand in creating a self-sustaining rural economy based on cooperative dairying. KMF is one of the few federations in the country, who have converted dairying from a subsidiary occupation into an industry. Coordination of activities among the Unions and developing markets for Milk and Milk products are the responsibility of KMF. Marketing Milk in the respective jurisdiction is organized by the respective Milk Unions. Surplus/deficit of liquid milk among the member Milk Unions is monitored by the Federation. While the marketing of all the Milk Products is organized by KMF, both within and outside the State, all the Milk and Milk products are sold under a common brand name NANDINI.The Federation is striving to create a self-reliant and vibrant rural economy in Karnataka by providing a supportive and conducive environment for the growth of Dairy Cooperatives as autonomous economic and social institutions. The Federation is largely successful in realizing the objectives of dairying during the last four decades of dairy development in Karnataka State. It is by-and-large successful in providing a viable subsidiary occupation to unemployed rural poor so as to raise their income earning capacities and to supply an adequate quantity of quality milk at reasonable prices to urban consumers.