The Amul company has increased milk price by Rs 3 per litre. As a result, the Amul milk which was sold earlier at Rs 63 is now being sold at Rs 66 and Amul buffalo milk is being sold at Rs 70. But sadly, till now, the Odisha Milk Federation (OMFED) has not hiked its milk price, said the Odisha Milk Farmers’ Association (OMFA) on Friday.
In the last few years, cattle feed which was earlier sold at Rs 900 has now reached Rs 1,400. Similarly, the prices for medicines for cattle and other things have increased. Earlier, despite repeated demands before the Government, the milk price was not increased. As a result, the farmers are forced to sell milk at Rs 33 to Rs 35, said OMFA president Rabi Behera.
Due to this, more than 11 lakh milk farmers are living in misery as in the meantime the prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed. Though big companies like Amul have increased milk prices, the OMFED should hike it to at least Rs 40 in the interest of the 2.68 lakh milk farmers who are dependent on the OMFED. Otherwise, the farmers would be forced to hold an agitation in the coming session of the State Assembly by spilling milk, said Behera.