Cabinet to discuss milk price hike: Shettar

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Sunday promised to discuss increasing the price of milk in the Cabinet keeping in mind the interests of milk producers.

He was speaking at a function organised by Bangalore Rural district and Ramanagar Co-operative Milk producers Union Limited.

Stating that the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has already requested for such a hike, he said: “There is also a proposal to increase the incentive given to milk producers by Rs 2-3 per litre and I will respond to that in the budget.”

Federation’s demand

The milk federations have sought a hike of Rs 5- Rs 6 per litre of milk. They have been arguing that the prices in other States like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu are between Rs 30 and Rs 34.

He said the government was proud that the production of milk has gone up by 40 per cent after the government started giving incentives and added the government is aware of the problems being faced by KMF.
“After having decided to use milk powder in anganawadi centres, we are already purchasing 1,000 tonne of milk powder from KMF per month,” Shettar said.

He added that a decision has been taken to use milk powder in midday meals and this would result in a purchase of 3,000 tonne of powder from KMF.