Maharashtra’s Minister for Dairy Development, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Sunil Kedar has organized a meeting between dairies and farmers representatives to held talks on the problems of low procurement price of milk. The meeting will be held on July 21 will see the minster taking stock of the milk situation in the state.
Due to coronavirus induced lockdown has led to low sales which has forced dairies in the state to reduce the procurement price they pay to their farmers.
Majority of the dairies in the state are paying the farmers between Rs 18-22.50/- per litre of milk with 3.5 per cent fat and 8.5 percent SNF (Solid-not-fat). Which is against the government’s directive of paying farmers at the rate of Rs 25/- per litre.
Maharashtra government has started procuring excess milk from dairies and converting the same to Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP). Dairies who are paying their farmers a base price of Rs 25/- are eligible for the program. However, dairies have taken to reduce their procurement prices given the low sales due to the lockdown in many areas.
Farmers organizations have started protesting in various parts of the state. On Monday the All India Kisan Sabha the farmer’s wing of CPI(M) led agitations with Swabhimani Shetkari Sangh Sanghatana the farmers’ outfit led by former MP Raju Shetti has called for a similar agitation on July 21.