Milma Chairman K.S. Mani Honoured with IDA Best Dairy Professional Award for Transformative Sectoral Impact
Kozhikode | January 14, 2026 – In a moment of national recognition for Kerala’s dairy sector, K.S. Mani, Chairman of the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (Milma), has been conferred the prestigious Best Dairy Professional Award by the Indian Dairy Association (IDA). The award acknowledges his 37-year commitment to uplifting dairy farmers and driving commercial and technological transformation within the Indian dairy industry.
The honour was presented during the Southern Dairy and Food Summit (SDFC) 2026, held in Kozhikode, Kerala. Andhra Pradesh’s Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister K. Atchannaidu presented the award in the presence of Kerala’s Dairy Development Minister J. Chinchurani, among other dignitaries.
K.S. Mani, while accepting the award, dedicated it to Kerala’s one million dairy farmers, highlighting their integral role in Milma’s success. “It is a matter of pride that Kerala’s dairy farmers receive the highest milk price per litre in India,” Mani stated, emphasising the importance of farmer-centric policies and welfare schemes.
Driving Growth Through Modernisation and Value Addition
Under Mani’s leadership, Milma has undertaken a series of strategic initiatives aimed at both commercial expansion and farmer welfare. Key highlights include:
- Establishment of a milk powder plant in Malappuram to enhance milk processing capacity.
- Introduction of value-added dairy products tailored for festive and seasonal demand, resulting in record-breaking sales.
- Collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to integrate modern production and distribution technologies.
- Continued investment in product diversification and R&D, supporting innovation within the cooperative framework.
Milma’s evolution under Mani is seen as a model for sustainable dairy cooperative development, balancing profitability, technology, and farmer empowerment.
Recognising Leaders Across the Sector
In the same category, several other prominent dairy professionals were honoured for their contributions:
- Nara Bhuvaneshwari, Vice Chairperson, Heritage Foods Ltd.
- Chalimeda Rajeshwar Rao, Chairman, Karimnagar Milk Producer Company Ltd.
- G.R. Balasubrahmanyam, Managing Director, GRB Dairy Foods Pvt. Ltd.
- R. Mohanasundaram, MD, Amrita Dairy
- Dr. P.I. Geevarghese, former Dean, KVASU
Women Dairy Farmers Recognised for Grassroots Impact
The Best Women Dairy Farmer Award was presented to outstanding women from across South India, including:
- Bindu V.P. (Kerala)
- Agandi Radha (Telangana)
- Shivani Rajashekhar Mattihalli (Karnataka)
- Padmini S. (Tamil Nadu)
- Nagajyothi Chandrashekhar (Andhra Pradesh)
These honours highlight the growing role of women in India’s dairy landscape, from cooperative members to entrepreneurial leaders.