Karnataka government reviews Nandini milk price hike request

The Karnataka government is evaluating a proposal from cooperative milk producers’ federations to increase the procurement and retail prices of Nandini milk by Rs 8 to Rs 10 per litre.

Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar has requested officials to submit detailed reports regarding milk production costs, the rise in cattle feed prices over the last decade, and procurement volumes. He also requested a comparison of milk prices and procurement rates in neighboring states.

A delegation led by D. K. Suresh, president of the Bengaluru Urban and Rural Milk Producers’ Cooperative Unions (BAMUL), cited rising expenses for fodder, medicine, and cattle feed as primary drivers for the requested hike. Suresh noted that dairy farmers are facing additional financial strain due to drought conditions affecting agricultural income and fodder availability.

The delegation highlighted that while cooperative unions in Karnataka have not raised prices for 18 months to protect consumers, procurement prices in neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu are significantly higher than Karnataka’s current rate of Rs 35 per litre for toned milk.