May 15, 2025

Karnataka, India milk union to provide livestock insurance coverage for 65,000 milk producers

For the first time in Karnataka, India, Mysuru Milk Union Limited (Mymul) has decided to provide livestock insurance coverage for all 65,000 milk producers under its network.

Until recent years, Mymul funded 50% of the annual premium payment amount for each cattle and collected the remaining 50% from the milk producers. Out of the ₹550 (US$6.60) annual premium amount, including other service charges, it collected ₹275 (US$3.30) from milk producers.

As only 10,000 milk producers registered for this insurance cover, Mymul has now extended free insurance cover to all its 65,000 dairy farmers to ensure everyone can benefit. The insurance not only offers financial protection against losses due to death or disability of livestock, but also covers accidental deaths, disease, and surgical intervention. This has come as a huge relief for dairy farmers in the district. The scheme will benefit about 100,000 families involved in dairy farming across the district.

Speaking to The Times of India, Mymul chairman N Cheluvaraju said a decision was taken in its recent meeting to offer livestock insurance cover at zero premium amount for all 65,000 milk producers starting June. Farmers will only need to pay ₹50 (US$0.60) as service charges to insure their cattle. The insurance cover is valid for three years and must be renewed every three years. Mymul has introduced this initiative to protect farmers in the event of accidental death of their animals.

Mymul managing director Suresh Naik added that the milk union will also distribute mats, grass cutters, and other machines at 50% subsidised prices to milk producers, in addition to offering free insurance cover for their livestock.

In 2017, Mymul procured 550,000 litres of milk per day from dairy farmers through its 1,105 primary milk producers' cooperative societies. Daily milk procurement reached 750,000 litres by 2022 and doubled to one million litres by December 2024. However, procurement has now declined to 900,000 litres per day due to the summer season and the resulting scarcity of green fodder.

Currently, Mymul supplies 300,000 litres of milk daily to consumers through its milk outlets across the city and district.

- The Times of India