Kochi, Jan 17 (AHN) Dairy farmers in Kerala must prepare themselves for the second White Revolution announced by PM Modi, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying George Kurian said here on Saturday, underlining the need for institutions such as Milma to take the lead in equipping farmers for a more competitive, quality-driven dairy sector.

Speaking after inaugurating the NDDB CALF (Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food) Food Testing Laboratory in Kochi, Kurian said the Prime Minister’s vision for the next phase of dairy growth would place greater emphasis on quality assurance, value addition and market competitiveness.

In that context, he said, the establishment of an international-standard testing facility in Kerala was a timely and strategic intervention for the state’s dairy economy.

Set up at a cost of Rs 8 crore with full funding from the Central Government, the laboratory is a joint initiative of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Milma, the Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation.

Located adjacent to the Milma Ernakulam Regional Union office at Edappally, the facility has been established as a State Central Laboratory under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD).

As India moves towards a second White Revolution, Kurian noted that healthy competition among dairy cooperatives across states was inevitable, but expressed confidence that Kerala could emerge as a frontrunner by leveraging strong institutions, technology and farmer participation.

NDDB Chairman Dr Meenesh C. Shah described the CALF laboratory as a major milestone in strengthening the country’s food quality and safety ecosystem.

Operating with the same benchmarks and professional practices as leading laboratories nationwide, the facility is expected to enhance trust and technological excellence across the dairy value chain.

The laboratory holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and approvals from agencies including NABL and FSSAI.

Equipped with advanced analytical infrastructure and expert scientists, it offers comprehensive testing of milk and milk products, covering microbiology, wet chemistry, residues and contaminants.

While initially focused on Kerala’s dairy sector, its services will also be available to private players and food entrepreneurs. In a phased expansion, the laboratory will extend testing services to fruits, vegetables, spices, fish, bakery products, ready-to-eat foods and rice, and cater to requirements from neighbouring states.

Beyond testing, the centre will organise specialised training programmes for cooperative employees, professionals and students, reinforcing NDDB’s and Milma's commitment to science-led growth, farmer empowerment and public health protection.