Chennai: Architect of the Operation Flood Dr V Kurien on January 29 said he suspected the hand of foreign multinationals behind the latest proposal by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) to set up joint ventures in the co-operative milk-producing sector of the country.

Kurien, who is the chairman of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, told reporters that the proposal to float joint venture companies with private partners having majority stake would pave the way for the loss of farmers' control over brand and marketing.

Pointing out that usurping the brand and marketing rights from a farmer organisation was detrimental to its long-term interests, he cautioned that NDDB and all milk federations should guard against vested interests of MNCs (multi-national companies) working through international consultants.

He said that already there were serious reservations about the capital structure, ownership pattern, governance structure and arrangements for transfer of brand and marketing infrastructure under the current joint venture proposal.

"It is even feared that the JVs in the current format might completely marginalise the milk marketing federations and their eventual disintegration," he said.

PTI