The 550 ml packet will now cost ₹24. Similarly, the 1000 ml (1 litre) packet will now be sold as 1,050 ml at ₹44.
Published Jun 25, 2024 | 4:42 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 25, 2024 | 4:44 PM
KMF Nandini
The Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) on Tuesday, 25 June, announced a hike in milk prices along with enhancing the quantity of milk in its half and one-litre packets by 50 ml, with effect from Wednesday, 26 June.
Chief Minister Siddaramiah too in a press release reiterated that, “there will be no increase in the price of Nandini milk. Instead, each milk packet will now contain an additional 50 ml of milk, and the price will be proportionally increased for the increased volume.”
This comes days after the Karnataka government hiked sales tax on fuel, following which petrol and diesel prices have gone up by ₹3 per litre in the state.
According to the CM release, “This decision by KMF aims to ensure that farmers’ additional milk production is not rejected at collection centres.”
The chief minister’s release further read, “Compared to last year, milk production in the state has increased by 15 percent. Last year, the average daily production was 90 lakh litres, whereas this year, it has increased to an average of 99 lakh litres per day. To accommodate this surplus production and ensure farmers are not turned away, KMF has decided to increase the milk content in each packet by 50 ml, with only a ₹2 charge for the additional milk. There is no increase in the per unit price of milk.”
“When our government came into power, the average daily milk collection in the state was around 72 lakh litres. We implemented a ₹3 increase in the milk price, directing the additional funds directly to farmers, and making dairy farming more profitable. Additionally, good rainfall this year has ensured ample green fodder for cattle. Due to these factors, milk production has now reached nearly 1 crore litre per day.”
The KMF in a statement backing the chief minister’s press release said, “As it is the current harvest season, the storage of milk in all district milk unions is increasing every day and the current storage is close to one crore litres. In this background, the price of each packet is being increased by ₹2 with an additional 50 ml of milk being given to the consumers only for each half litre (500ML) and one litre (1000ML) packet,” KMF said in a statement.
“In the dairy industry, Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers Mahamandal (federation) is the second largest Mahamandal in the country… KMF has been procuring and processing milk from more than 27 lakh dairy farmers of the state through its member milk unions for the past five decades and has been introducing a variety of superior quality milk and milk products under the brand name ‘Nandini’,” it stated.
The CM’s release added, “Currently, the maximum amount of milk is being used for milk powder production. Approximately 30 lakh litres of milk are used daily to produce 250 metric tons of milk powder to meet the existing demand.”
Currently, the 500 ml toned milk packet of Nandini costs ₹22. With this hike, the 550 ml packet will now cost ₹24. Similarly, the 1000 ml (1 litre) packet was priced at ₹42 and will now be sold as 1,050 ml at ₹44.
Similarly, prices will go up for other categories of milk under the Nandini brand.
The decision to hike milk prices has drawn sharp reactions, with the opposition parties attacking the Congress-led Siddaramaiah government.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified that the milk prices have been hiked by KMF and not by the government.
“I don’t know, I will speak to them (KMF)… Milk prices have been hiked by the KMF, not the government. After looking at the situation in other states they do it… As far as I know compared to other states milk prices in our state are less,” he told reporters in Bengaluru.
Hitting out at the chief minister, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly R Ashoka alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka has increased the milk price to “celebrate the anniversary of the Emergency”.
“If you (Siddaramaiah) have even an iota of compassion for the poor and middle-class people, then withdraw the milk price hike order immediately,” he said, directing his comments at the chief minister.
“You (Siddaramaiah) have increased the price of milk in just 13 months after coming to power. Last year in August, the price of milk was increased by ₹3 and now it has been increased by ₹2.
“The poor and middle-class people of the state are already distressed by the increase in petrol and diesel prices and skyrocketing prices of vegetables. In such a situation, you have put more burden on them,” he posted on social
BJP Karnataka unit President BY Vijayendra stated that the latest decision to hike milk prices will badly affect the poor and struggling families who are already facing a daunting task in making ends meet.
“Soon after the Lok Sabha election result, there was a cry from Congress MLAs to roll back the guarantees to avenge their loss. Finally, this is how the Congress government is exacting revenge on the poor citizens for voting against them.
“@INCKarnataka govt seems to be in a mad hurry to hike the price of every essential commodity to inflict the maximum pain on the voters. @BJPKarnataka will fight every inch against the anti-people decisions of this government,” he posted on X.
Latest decision to hike the milk price by Rs 2/- will cost very dearly to poor, struggling families who are already facing a daunting task to make their ends meet.
Soon after the Loksabha Election results, there was a cry from Congress MLAs to rollback the Gaurantees to avenge…
— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) June 25, 2024
The Janata Dal (Secular) too criticised the move and alleged sarcastically that on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the Emergency, the Karnataka Congress government has given a “bumper gift” to the people.
“Will the benefit of this price rise go to milk producers or will it go to KMF? The guarantee (schemes) is the cause for the price rise,” the party posted on X.
ತುರ್ತು ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಯ ಸುವರ್ಣ ಮಹೋತ್ಸವದ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ @INCKarnataka ಸರಕಾರ ಜನರಿಗೆ ಬಂಪರ್ ಕೊಡುಗೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದೆ!
ಈ ದರ ಏರಿಕೆ ಲಾಭ ಹಾಲು ಉತ್ಪಾದಕರಿಗೆ ಸಿಗಲಿದೆಯೋ ಅಥವಾ ಕೆಎಂಎಫ್ ಜೋಳಿಗೆ ಹೋಗಲಿದೆಯೋ?
ಗ್ಯಾರಂಟಿಯೇ ಬೆಲೆ ಏರಿಕೆಗೆ ಮೂಲ!!#Milk_Rate_Hike #Emergency_Golden_Jubilee_Gift pic.twitter.com/W3G6wTYDhu
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) June 25, 2024
When the fuel prices were hiked, the petrol prices were expected to rise to ₹103.84 per litre, and the diesel price to ₹88.93 per litre.
According to an official gazette notification released by the finance department, the Karnataka Sales Tax (KST) has increased from 25.92 percent to 29.84 percent on petrol and from 14.3 percent to 18.4 percent on diesel.
The move came on the heels of the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, where inflation and price rise have been a critical issue.
Reacting to the fuel price hike on 15 June, BJP leader BY Vijayendra had said, “The financial situation in Karnataka is getting worse every day. They (Congress) are unable to run the government because of the guarantees they promised and the lack of necessary resources.”
A week back, on 19 June, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar indicated that a possible hike in the monthly water charges in the city is on the cards as he highlighted the financial strains faced by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).
‘Since last ten years, the water tariff in Bengaluru has not been increased. It (BWSSB) is suffering a great loss. We have to take up new projects. No bank is coming forward to finance the BWSSB. Now the (Cauvery) fifth phase (water supply project) is going to be completed,” Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru.
“70 percent is power bill and labour cost…every year we (BWSSB) are having a big loss. So there is no option. I am working out the possibilities, we are discussing how to set the company right,” the Minister said.
(With PTI inputs)
