Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh Minister of Endowments, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, has announced the formation of a high-level expert committee to establish guidelines for the procurement and preparation of ghee used in prasadam and other temple rituals. This decision came after a meeting held Tuesday at the Debt Commissionerate with representatives from various dairy associations and organizations.
Minister Reddy highlighted that Andhra Pradesh’s major temples require approximately 1,500 tonnes of cow ghee annually. The committee, tasked with delivering a report within 15 days, will focus on ensuring both the quantity and quality of ghee sourced meet the standards set by the government.
Previously, temples sourced ghee directly from dairies, but the switch to a tender system in 2022 faced setbacks due to stringent regulations. To address this, the Minister directed Devadaya Commissioner Satyanarayana to lead a committee comprising senior officials, dairy representatives, and SV Dairy College experts. Ponnur MLA and Sangam Dairy Chairman Dhulipalla Narendra emphasized that a comprehensive ghee policy should prioritize local dairy sources, allowing fair competition among dairy unions.
This new policy aims to strengthen temple operations while supporting Andhra Pradesh’s dairy sector.
