The ‘kunda’ is synonymous with Belagavi, and both residents and visitors to this border city just can’t do without this milk-based sweet. But, not many know that khoya (also called khova), its most important ingredient, comes from Badal Ankalgi, a village about 20 km from here, where 20 families are engaged in making khoya . This small industry is well worth emulating given the additional income it generates for small and marginal farmers.
Pay a visit to the village, and you will find at least one member of each family simmering milk in a huge iron vessel, stirring it occasionally till it reduces to a light brown texture to form thekhoya .
Usually, five litres of full-fat milk reduces to one kg of khoya , says Suresh Basappa Gugri, whose family has been khoya makers for more than two decades. Yellavva Ramappa Shivappa another enthusiast, who after attending his chores, settles down to prepare khoya daily.
The khoya makers get milk from local farmers at Rs. 23 a litre. Factoring in the cost of fuel (wood) and transportation, the profit margin is Rs.10 a kg. Since it can be made in a corner of their homes, without extra labour costs, it helps in generating additional income for the family, Mr. Suresh said. Around 400 kg of khoya is produced by the 20 families in this village, and sold to sweet shops in Belagavi for Rs.150 a kg. There are some families producing 30 to 40 kg a day, earning them Rs. 300 to Rs. 400 for their hard work.
20 families of Badal Ankalgi village have
dual income — from making ‘khoya’ and
crop cultivation
Source : The Hindu
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