SHIVAMOGGA
With pressure building from dairy farmers amid drought conditions, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday said that he will soon hold a meeting and take a decision on the demand for an increase in the milk procurement price. This could, in turn, mean hike in milk prices for consumers.
Speaking to presspersons at Balehonnur in N.R. Pura taluk of Chikkamagaluru district on Saturday, Mr. Shivakumar said the price of milk had been increased by ₹9 to ₹10 in Tamil Nadu. Milk producers in Karnataka had been making a similar demand, and a meeting would be held with representatives of milk producers’ unions soon, he said.
Earlier this week in Bengaluru, Karnataka Milk Producers’ Association had submitted a memorandum and held a meeting with Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) officials seeking a hike in milk prices by ₹8 per litre with immediate effect.
Mr. Shivakumar said he understood the problems faced by milk producers due to the rise in the cost of fodder. As neighbouring States were offering a higher price, more milk was being supplied to them, resulting in losses to cooperative societies in Karnataka, he added.
Shivamogga District Central Cooperative (DCC) Bank chairperson R.M. Manjunath Gowda, speaking at the public meeting in Tirthahalli in Shivamogga district earlier in the day, had urged the Chief Minister to increase the milk prices.
“People are ready to pay ₹50 for a litre of water. However, if we demand an increase in the price of milk, they object. Considering the plight of farmers, the government should increase the milk price. Milk producers have also planned a protest on the issue next week,” he said.
Published – September 19, 2026 08:30 pm IST
