Farmers’ stir to hit milk supply in Maharashtra

Milk supply in major cities in Maharashtra could get disrupted indefinitely from Monday due to farmers’ agitation over continuous fall in its prices following oversupply.

The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, headed by Member of Parliament Raju Shetti, had appealed to all farmer leaders to stop milk supply to major cities such as Mumbai and Pune from July 16, demanding ~5 per litre subsidy be transferred to farmers’ account directly.

According to estimates, the direct subsidy transfer would cost the Maharashtra government ~4 billion annually.

Members of the Sanghatana have decided to halt vans carrying to Mumbai and Pune at Nashik. All such vans heading for other cities either from farmlands or dairy companies’ owned collection centres would be stopped outside their respective cities across Maharashtra.

Local administrative offices have warned Sanghatana leaders not to take law and order in their hands.

Interestingly, other farmer bodies did not clarify about their support to the Sanghatana. However, according to sources, a number of dairy companies, including Gokul brand manufacturer Kolhapur Zilla Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh and Gowardhan brand producer Parag Milk Foods could join the stir.

“We had taken a march of farmers to Mumbai from Pune early this year. Despite the government’s assurance nothing worked in farmers’ favour in Maharashtra. Farmers’ suicide continued due to low prices of their produce,” Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana spokesperson Yogesh Pande said.

Hovering between ~19 and ~23 a litre (farmers’ actual realisation) across Maharashtra, the cost of cow milk production is estimated at ~30 a litre. Milk farmers are demanding ~30 per litre minimum selling price. Being seasonal in nature, cow milk price sometimes goes up to ~26-27 a litre during lean season, especially the summer months.