Karnataka Cabinet to consider proposed milk price increase
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar says the Cabinet will examine a proposal to raise milk prices after district milk unions requested an increase of ₹12 a litre. The unions cite losses and pressure on dairy farmers, while the government plans to compare prices and conditions in neighbouring States.
The Karnataka Cabinet will consider a proposal to increase milk prices before the government takes a final decision, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Saturday. The proposal follows a meeting between the Chief Minister and presidents of district milk unions, who sought an increase of ₹12 per litre.
Shivakumar said ₹2 of the proposed increase could be allocated to milk producers’ societies. He said the government would examine conditions in neighbouring States, including Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and obtain reports before deciding on the request. According to Shivakumar, milk unions were incurring losses at existing prices and dairy farmers had been seeking a revision.
He said around 50,000 milk producers had demanded an increase. The presidents of district milk unions met the Chief Minister at his residence in Bengaluru’s Sadashivanagar and submitted their proposal. Representatives included Bengaluru Milk Union president D.K.
Suresh, Ballari Milk Union president Raghavendra Hitnal and Kolar Milk Union president K.Y. Nanjegowda. KMF Managing Director S.T.
Suresh and Administrator M.V. Venkatesh also attended the meeting. Suresh later said producers had sought a price revision for five to six months because of financial difficulties.
He said a proposal had been submitted for an increase of ₹10 per litre and that pressure on milk producers had grown since the outbreak of the war in West Asia. He added that Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra had raised milk prices about four months earlier, while Karnataka had not yet done so. Milk producers have held protests and submitted memoranda to district administrations.
Producers from different parts of the State also travelled to Bengaluru to press their demand, Suresh said. He said legislators had raised dairy farmers’ concerns in both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council. Suresh also argued that prices would remain below those of private operators even after an increase.
The source material did not state when the Cabinet would consider the proposal or what the final retail price might be.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.