Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Minority Affairs George Kurian inaugurates the NDDB CALF Food Testing Laboratory, a joint initiative of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (Milma). ERCMPU Chairman C. N. Valsalan Pillai, Milma Federation Chairman K. S. Mani, MP Hibi Eden, NDDB Chairman Meenesh Shah, and Milma Managing Director Asif K. Yusuf, among others, are seen alongside.
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying George Kurian has urged institutions, including Milma, to take the lead in preparing Kerala’s dairy farmers for the second White Revolution announced by the Prime Minister.
Inaugurating the NDDB CALF Food Testing Laboratory—a joint initiative of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Milma, the Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation—the Minister stated that the establishment of an international-standard laboratory in the State marked a major milestone for Kerala’s dairy sector. As the country moves towards the second White Revolution, he said, dairy cooperatives across States would face healthy competition and expressed confidence that Kerala could emerge as a frontrunner.
Hibi Eden, MP, called for the inclusion of the dairy farming sector under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). He said recent legislative amendments would enable the State government to take a decision in this regard and added that Milma could play a role in exerting pressure on the government to move forward.
NDDB Chairman Meenesh C. Shah described the launch of the laboratory as a significant step in strengthening India’s food quality and safety ecosystem. He said the facility, a wholly owned subsidiary of NDDB, would play a decisive role in building trust, ensuring technological excellence and enhancing competitiveness in the dairy market.
The laboratory has been established as a State Central Laboratory under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) with financial assistance from the Central Government. It will function with the same quality benchmarks, international standards and professional practices followed by leading laboratories across the country.
Equipped with advanced analytical facilities and manned by expert scientists, the centre offers comprehensive testing services for milk and milk products, including microbiology, wet chemistry, and analysis of residues and contaminants. The services will be available to both cooperative and private sector players.
While the laboratory will initially cater to the testing requirements of Kerala’s dairy sector, its services will also be extended to other food entrepreneurs in the State. In a phased manner, testing capabilities will be expanded to cover fruits, vegetables, spices, fish, bakery products, ready-to-eat foods and rice. The facility will also serve testing needs from neighbouring States.
In addition to testing, the centre aims to enhance technical excellence in the food sector by organising specialised training programmes for employees of cooperative institutions, industry professionals and students.
Published on January 18, 2026
