Amul Vs Nandini Row in Karnataka [UPSC Notes]

In April 2023, a statement by the Union Minister for Cooperatives Amit Shah, on the integration of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) with the Anand Milk Union Ltd (Amul) of Gujarat, has led to a row by the opposition Congress and Janata Dal (Secular). In this context, we discuss the Amul vs Nandini debate triggered in Karnataka, from the perspective of the IAS exam.

Amul Vs Nandini Debate

• Amul is a well-known milk brand of the GCMMF (Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation) while Nandini is a well-established milk brand of the KMF (Karnataka Milk Federation). 
• Both are robust cooperative movements with lakhs of associated dairy farmers.
• The debate began with Amul’s recent announcement to make its products available in Bengaluru.
• Some have tried to exploit the situation and start a debate around the ‘outsider – sons of the soil’ faultline in the run-up to the elections.
• Interestingly, both GCMMF and KML sat as outsiders during the protests and showdowns.
• People protesting against Amul were insinuating that it was trying to subsume the Nandini brand.
• The debate is unique because none of the cooperatives actually involved in it are active fighters.
• Moreover, there are two sets of views of current milk geopolitics – 
  • We are one nation and therefore products, services, and brands must crisscross the country without comment and controversy. 
  • The very ethos of a cooperative movement is local and incursions by outsiders must be avoided.

Is it all about politics?

• The major players in the region, such as the Congress, JD(s) and BJP, stake their claims in the local elections and share assembly seats among them.
• As with politics anywhere, they highlight milk cooperative issues to influence voters.
• However, these are non-issues as per the local functionaries who say increasing procurement prices, waiving farm loans, and listing fodder prices should be in the focus.

What is the Kolar Issue?

• The Kolar district of Karnataka has signboards depicting “Welcome to the land of milk and silk”, showing its importance in the district.
• Milk is an integral part of life here, from the socio-economics of the region to politics. 
• There are milk cooperatives in almost every one of the nearly 3,000 villages in the Kolar region.
• It provides employment to women, who make up nearly a quarter of the three lakh members of the 2,200 dairy cooperatives. 
• About Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month is the average earning from dairy farming.
• Although milk has been an important source of livelihood for the people, it has never been the source of political dispute.
• The recent statement by the union cooperative minister has made people speculative about future plans.
• The small dairy farmers have the fear of losing their market share.
• The Kolar milk union does not have the strength like that of the Bangalore milk union to market its products.

Way forward: The real issues of the Kolar region in dairy and other agricultural sectors must be addressed going forward. The insecurity of the farmers towards corporate competition and perceived threats to livelihood should take the centre stage in regional politics.

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