The current instability follows a severe crisis in local milk production, which plummeted to a low of just 3.2 lakh litres last March. DKMUL Managing Director Vivek D identified several compounding factors that drove this sharp reduction: economic pressure from unfavorable milk pricing, the widespread impact of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), and the critical issue of fodder non-availability. These challenges underscore the vulnerability of the region’s dairy farmers to disease and input cost volatility and highlight the urgency of the cooperative’s intervention efforts.

In response to the crisis, DKMUL implemented immediate and targeted initiatives to incentivize producers and stabilize the supply chain. These measures include a shift in feed strategy, replacing traditional fodder with highly nutritious silage offered to farmers at a subsidized rate. Furthermore, the cooperative offered significant financial aid of ₹12,000 for the procurement of high-yield Erode Cows, resulting in the successful introduction of 500 new cows into the Dakshina Kannada district to boost yield.

Beyond cattle and feed subsidies, DKMUL strategically increased the milk procurement price paid to farmers, aiming to improve profitability at the farm gate. Simultaneously, the Union launched a proactive outreach campaign, using internal data to contact farmers who had previously reduced their herd sizes and urging them to increase production. Through these sustained efforts, DKMUL projects a further procurement increase to 4.7 lakh litres by June 2026, demonstrating a confident, long-term outlook for the cooperative’s self-sufficiency.