Nandini milk price hiked by Rs 3/lit: K'taka Govt says it is to help dairy farmers
Karnataka is selling milk at the lowest price in the country compared to other states where it is sold at much higher rates. The milk (toned) that costs Rs 39 will be sold at Rs 42 per litre. Elsewhere it is sold between Rs 54 and Rs 56 per litre. In Tamil Nadu the price is Rs 44 per litre,
Team RuralVoice
Meeting the demands of Karnataka milk producers, the state government has decided to hike price of Nandini milk by Rs three per litre from August 1. Nandini is the brand name of products of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). The decision was taken on Thursday at a meeting of the state cabinet.
Defending the decision, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday that Karnataka is selling milk at the lowest price in the country compared to other states where it is sold at much higher rates. "The milk (toned) that costs Rs 39 will be sold at Rs 42 per litre. Elsewhere it is sold between Rs 54 and Rs 56 per litre. In Tamil Nadu the price is Rs 44 per litre," the Chief Minister said.
Commenting on the decision, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said, "We have to give money to the farmers (milk producers). Today in the entire country it's (toned milk) Rs 56 per litre. In our state people are getting at a very less price." He explained that the government has decided to hike milk price following demands from milk producers’ unions. The decision will help farmers.
The Cabinet gave post-facto approval a week after approving the hike in a meeting with Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) representatives. KMF had cited lower procurement due to higher prices offered to farmers by private players. Earlier this year, a political slugfest broke out between the BJP on the one hand, and the Congress and JD(S) on the other, over the "threat" to Karnataka Milk Federation's famed dairy brand 'Nandini' following Amul's entry to the state.
The issue took a political hue in the run up to the May 10 elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, in which the Congress scored an emphatic victory by bagging 135 seats while the erstwhile ruling BJP and the former prime minister HD Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) secured 66 and 19 seats, respectively.
