South Connect: Amul Enters Bengaluru Market, Farmers, Consumers Worried About "Nandhini"

"The move by Amul Cooperative Society — the dairy giant from Anand in Gujarat — to venture into the Bengaluru retail market with its dairy products (milk and curd) has been met with flak and suspicion by farmers and residents of Karnataka. Amul’s announcement comes at a time dairy farmers have been expressing concerns over the adverse impact the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and its flagship brand Nandini — as well as farmers dependent on the cooperative — may face if richer and stronger brands like Amul are allowed to compete in the marketplace. Union Home Minister and Minister for Cooperation Amit Shah calling for “cooperation” between Gujarat’s Amul and Karnataka’s Nandini had led to a flurry of angry reactions from farmers and Kannada rights activists alike. Social media was abuzz recently with teasers and advertisements from Amul Cooperative Society’s Twitter handle. In one such teaser, the dairy giant stated that Amul milk and curd would be available from Kengeri to Whitefield, wishing everyone a ‘Taaza’ (fresh) day! Many residents of Bengaluru expressed discontent online over Amul’s move to enter Karnataka, which has its own Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and its favourite brand Nandini for milk and curd. One netizen posted: “So this story is coming true of Amul taking over brand Nandini of @kmfnandinimilk.. Already Milk n Curd of Nandini r in shortage in Bengaluru n Nandini Ghee is out of stock since last 2 months…” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices