KMF announces milk, curd price hike by Rs 3/ltr; CM says decision after Nov 20

BENGALURU: The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has announced a hike in prices of its ‘Nandini’ brand of milk and curds by Rs 3 per litre with effect from Tuesday midnight. However, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who spoke in Kalaburagi, said a decision will be taken after November 20.

The KMF claimed that the decision was taken in the interest of farmers. The Federation is purchasing milk from farmers at a cost Rs 29 per litre and the additional money is likely to go farmers along with the government’s subsidy of Rs 5, it said.

The CM, however, said that the demand to hike prices had been pending for six months and added that a meeting will be held after November 20 with the KMF chairman and officials. The price hike should not burden the common man, and, at the same time, should benefit farmers, he noted.

Reasons cited for the price hike :

Increased price on fodder (grass)

Unavailability of fodder after recent heavy rain

Lumpy skin disease in cattle

Transportation, electricity, packing and equipment charges have increased to 35 per cent from 25 per cent

The price of toned milk (blue sachet) is to be increased to Rs 40 from Rs 37 per litre. The current price of homogenised toned milk is Rs 38 and the revised price is Rs 41 per litre. The current price of homogenised cow milk is Rs 42 and the new price is Rs 45 per litre, as announced by KMF.

The prices of Special milk (orange sachet) and Shubham milk is to be raised to Rs 46, up from from Rs 43, per litre. The price of homogenised standardised milk (green sachet) is to go up to Rs 47 from Rs 44, Samridhi milk to Rs 51 from Rs 48 and Santripti milk to Rs 53, up from Rs 50. The price of double toned milk, which is being sold at Rs 36 per litre, is to be raised to Rs 39 and Nandini Curds to Rs 48 per kg against Rs 45 now.

The KMF and other milk unions have been seeking revision of prices with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai for the last six months claiming that they are financially in dire straits. However, with the CM announcing that he will be meeting KMF officials after November 20, there seems to be no clarity if the new prices will come into effect immediately.