The revision includes Rs 7 per litre for milk producers and Re 1 for cooperatives, taking farmers’ total receipts, including the existing government incentive, to Rs 47 per litre
Karnataka will raise the price paid to milk producers by Rs 7 per litre from 1 November, while milk cooperatives will receive an additional Re 1 per litre, taking the total increase to Rs 8 per litre. Minister Krishna Byre Gowda announced the Cabinet decision on Thursday, following protests by farmers demanding higher payments amid a crisis in the sector.
Explaining the decision after the Cabinet meeting, Gowda said milk producers had taken to the streets to demand better remuneration, while cooperatives had also pressed for a price revision. Members of all parties in the Legislative Council had called for measures to support farmers, prompting the government to consider the issue at multiple Cabinet meetings.
“Given the crisis faced by farmers, members of all parties in the Legislative Council had called for measures to support them. Milk producers themselves had taken to the streets in protest, and the cooperatives had also pressed for an increase… Respecting these demands, the Cabinet has today decided to increase the price paid to milk-producing farmers by Rs 7 per litre. In addition, the cooperatives will receive an increase of Re 1 per litre. Thus, the total increase will be Rs 8 per litre” Gowda said.
Farmers had sought an increase of at least Rs 10 per litre, with representatives of their cooperatives meeting the chief minister, the animal husbandry minister and the cooperation minister during the protests. The Cabinet, however, decided on a lower revision after discussions chaired by the chief minister, Gowda said.
“Although farmers demanded an increase of Rs 10 per litre, it was felt that so much increase cannot be done. After discussions in the Cabinet today, under the chairmanship of the chief minister, we decided on an increase of Rs 8 per litre, of which Rs 7 will go to the farmers and Re 1 to the milk cooperatives,” he said.
The revised payment will take the price received by farmers from the current Rs 35 per litre to Rs 42 per litre, excluding the government incentive. The existing incentive of Rs 5 per litre will continue, bringing the total amount received by milk producers to Rs 47 per litre, according to the minister.
“This means farmers will receive a total of Rs 47 per litre, including the government incentive. This will benefit lakhs of farming families,” he added.
