<p>Bengaluru:Starting April 1, Nandini milk prices in Karnataka will go up by Rs 4 per litre while curd will become costlier by Rs 4 per kg.</p>.<p>Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna insisted that the entire hike would go to producers (dairy farmers) because production and maintenance costs had gone up.</p>.<p>“Farmers and milk cooperatives had been demanding the hike for a long time now. The state Cabinet held a meeting and decided to hike the prices. We are aware that hiking the price amid increase in other sectors will naturally draw criticism but this for our farmers. The entire hike will go to them,” he stated.</p>.Karnataka Milk Federation to soon launch Nandini cow milk in Haryana.<p>When asked whether the government should have released incentives to farmers instead, Rajanna remarked: “The government doesn’t have a note-printing machine. The money has to come from tax collections.”</p>.<p>As per data from the Animal Husbandry Department, Karnataka has 28.84 lakh dairy farmers. Of them, more than 8.9 lakh farmers supply milk to dairy cooperative societies.</p>.<p>Of the every rupee received from sales, 80 paise goes to farmers. The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), the second-largest milk federation in the country, pays them Rs 28.60 crore every day, according to the department.</p>.<p>Rajanna emphasised that the cow prices have increased by Rs 20,000-30,000 while fodder has become twice as expensive.</p>.<p>He pointed out that dairy farmers had sought a hike of at least Rs 6 per litre.</p>.<p>Minister K Venkatesh claimed that even after the latest hike, Karnataka would have the “lowest” milk prices compared to other states.</p>.<p>After the hike, Nandini (toned) milk will cost 46. Toned milk costs Rs 52 per litre in Kerala, Rs 53 in Gujarat, Rs 55 in Delhi, Rs 52 in Maharashtra and Rs 58 in Telangana.</p>.<p>The KMF procures milk from farmers at Rs 31.68 per litre. Assam, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab procure milk for Rs 37.93, Rs 35.05, Rs 39, Rs 28.25, Rs 34.80, 35.23, respectively.</p>.<p>Although both ministers defended the hike, calling it “pro-farmer”, they walked out of the press conference when reporters asked why the profit-making KMF cannot share profits.</p>
<p>Bengaluru:Starting April 1, Nandini milk prices in Karnataka will go up by Rs 4 per litre while curd will become costlier by Rs 4 per kg.</p>.<p>Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna insisted that the entire hike would go to producers (dairy farmers) because production and maintenance costs had gone up.</p>.<p>“Farmers and milk cooperatives had been demanding the hike for a long time now. The state Cabinet held a meeting and decided to hike the prices. We are aware that hiking the price amid increase in other sectors will naturally draw criticism but this for our farmers. The entire hike will go to them,” he stated.</p>.Karnataka Milk Federation to soon launch Nandini cow milk in Haryana.<p>When asked whether the government should have released incentives to farmers instead, Rajanna remarked: “The government doesn’t have a note-printing machine. The money has to come from tax collections.”</p>.<p>As per data from the Animal Husbandry Department, Karnataka has 28.84 lakh dairy farmers. Of them, more than 8.9 lakh farmers supply milk to dairy cooperative societies.</p>.<p>Of the every rupee received from sales, 80 paise goes to farmers. The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), the second-largest milk federation in the country, pays them Rs 28.60 crore every day, according to the department.</p>.<p>Rajanna emphasised that the cow prices have increased by Rs 20,000-30,000 while fodder has become twice as expensive.</p>.<p>He pointed out that dairy farmers had sought a hike of at least Rs 6 per litre.</p>.<p>Minister K Venkatesh claimed that even after the latest hike, Karnataka would have the “lowest” milk prices compared to other states.</p>.<p>After the hike, Nandini (toned) milk will cost 46. Toned milk costs Rs 52 per litre in Kerala, Rs 53 in Gujarat, Rs 55 in Delhi, Rs 52 in Maharashtra and Rs 58 in Telangana.</p>.<p>The KMF procures milk from farmers at Rs 31.68 per litre. Assam, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab procure milk for Rs 37.93, Rs 35.05, Rs 39, Rs 28.25, Rs 34.80, 35.23, respectively.</p>.<p>Although both ministers defended the hike, calling it “pro-farmer”, they walked out of the press conference when reporters asked why the profit-making KMF cannot share profits.</p>
