Karnataka Cabinet to weigh milk price hike proposal, says CM Shivakumar

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has said the State Cabinet will take up a proposal to revise milk prices before any final decision is made. The matter follows a representation from the presidents of district milk unions, who met him at his residence in Sadashivanagar on Saturday.

The unions have sought an increase of ₹12 per litre, with ₹2 of that amount proposed to be directed to milk producers' societies. Mr. Shivakumar said the government would study the situation in neighbouring States, including Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, obtain reports and then take a decision after reviewing the matter.

According to the Chief Minister, the milk unions are incurring losses at the current price and dairy farmers have been pressing for a revision. He said around 50,000 milk producers had demanded a hike.

The meeting was attended by Bengaluru Milk Union (BAMUL) president D.K. Suresh, Ballari Milk Union president Raghavendra Hitnal, Kolar Milk Union president K.Y. Nanjegowda and heads of other milk unions. KMF Managing Director S.T. Suresh and Administrator M.V. Venkatesh were also present.

Speaking to the media afterwards, Mr. Suresh said milk producers had been seeking a price revision for the past five to six months because of the financial difficulties they face. He said a proposal seeking an increase of ₹10 a litre had been submitted to the government, and that pressure on producers had grown since the outbreak of the war in West Asia.

He noted that several high-production States had already revised their prices, with Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra raising milk prices about four months ago, while Karnataka has not yet done so.

Milk producers have held protests and submitted memoranda to district administrations seeking a higher price, and producers from different parts of the State have travelled to Bengaluru to press their demand. Mr. Suresh said several legislators had raised the problems faced by dairy farmers and milk producers in both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.

Responding to questions from the media, he said criticism of a possible milk price increase was inconsistent with the frequent hikes in fuel and other commodity prices. He added that even after a revision, milk prices in Karnataka would remain lower than those charged by private players.