Karnataka’s Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture, K. Venkatesh, has announced a ₹4 per liter increase in milk prices, set to take effect from April 1. The decision aims to support dairy farmers and offset rising production costs, following demands from farmers, various organizations, and the Department of Animal Husbandry.
Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had stated that any price hike would only be considered if the additional revenue directly benefited dairy farmers. Although he initially opposed the increase, he assured the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) that the cabinet would take a final decision soon.
Reports indicate that the state cabinet was expected to finalize the hike on Thursday. According to sources quoted by IANS, KMF and farmers' organizations had pushed for a Rs 5 per liter increase, but the government settled on Rs 3 per liter before ultimately deciding on Rs 4.
Protests and Demands from Farmers
On February 10, the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Green Brigade staged a protest at the KMF office in Bengaluru, demanding that the milk procurement price be raised to at least Rs 50 per liter. They also called for an interim support price of ₹10 per liter until a Minimum Support Price (MSP) could be implemented.
This is not the first revision in recent times. On June 25, 2024, the Karnataka government raised milk prices by Rs. 2 per liter while adding an extra 50 ml to each packet—a move that faced public criticism.