MLA demands hike of ₹10 a litre in milk procurement price to help drought-hit farmers in Karnataka

Congress member K.Y. Nanje Gowda, who is also chairman of Kolar-Chickballapur Milk Union Limited (KOMUL), on Wednesday urged the government to increase the procurement price of milk being sold by KMF by ₹10 per litre to provide succour to drought-hit milk producers.

Participating in a debate in the Assembly on drought, Mr. Gowda cautioned that the KMF’s brand value and the milk cooperative network in the State would take a hit if milk procurement price was not hiked.

Production costs

He explained that the production cost of milk had increased sharply over the years while the drought had added to woes of the dairy sector. “The cost of cattle feed has increased from ₹720 per 50-kg bag to ₹1,250 now. It is almost impossible for farmers now to get either green or dry fodder owing to the drought. In such a scenario, how do you expect milk producers to survive by selling milk at such non-remunerative prices?” he wondered.

Also, the procurement and the selling prices of milk by KMF in Karnataka are cheaper compared to other States, he pointed out. He said while the milk procurement price per litre stood at ₹35 in Karnataka, it was ₹41.5 in Andhra Pradesh, ₹41.8 in Keralam, and ₹41 in Maharashtra, he said. The average procurement prices of milk in the country is about ₹41 per litre.

Question of quality

Discounting the argument that consumers would be burdened if the procurement price of milk was increased, Mr. Gowda maintained that consumers should realise that they would not get access to quality and affordable milk if the farmers’ interests are not protected.

In fact, the KMF’s milk selling price in Karnataka that stood at ₹46 a litre was lower compared to other States, he said. The price per litre was ₹67 in Andhra Pradesh, ₹52 in Keralam, ₹59 in Maharashtra, and ₹61 in Delhi.

Milk rejected by the KMF’s procurement units owing to low quality was being procured by private milk companies and being sold at prices higher than the KMF’s selling price, he alleged.

Pointing out that educated youth were returning to villages to take up dairying, he appealed to the government to help retain them in the sector through an increase in procurement prices.

He further appealed to the government to provide a special drought package to Kolar district considering the fact that the impact of drought on this parched district would be more.