Bengaluru, September 22 (Udaipur Kiran) : The Karnataka government is evaluating a proposed increase in the price of Nandini milk, with suggestions for a rise of ₹8 to ₹10 per liter. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has instructed officials to gather comprehensive data on milk production costs and prices from neighboring states.
A delegation from cooperative dairy producers met with Shivakumar at Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, presenting a memorandum that highlighted their demands for a price revision. During the meeting, the Chief Minister requested detailed information on the rising costs of animal feed over the past decade, the production costs for one liter of milk, and the volume of milk sold by farmers outside cooperative societies. He also sought insights into purchasing volumes and prevailing prices in adjacent states.
D.K. Suresh, the president of the Bengaluru Urban and Rural Milk Producers Cooperative Societies (BAMUL) and Shivakumar’s brother, spoke on behalf of the delegation. He explained that escalating costs for feed, medicines, and other essentials have significantly increased the cost of milk production. Furthermore, drought conditions have compounded challenges for dairy farmers, adversely affecting agricultural income and feed availability.
Suresh noted, “Various cooperatives and private dairy companies in different states have been consistently raising the prices of milk and dairy products. In the interest of consumers, we have not increased milk prices for the past one and a half years.” He added that private dairy firms are attempting to purchase larger quantities of milk, intensifying competition for Karnataka’s cooperatives.
Currently, Karnataka’s cooperatives are purchasing toned milk at ₹35 per liter, while prices in neighboring states are higher—₹41.50 in Andhra Pradesh, ₹41.80 in Kerala, ₹41 in Maharashtra, and ₹42.24 in Tamil Nadu. Suresh claimed that the maximum retail price for milk in Karnataka is at least ₹12 per liter lower than in these neighboring states.
The delegation emphasized the need for an increase in both purchasing and selling prices by ₹8 to ₹10 per liter, citing rising production costs and the necessity to provide better returns to farmers. The Chief Minister’s directive to his officials indicates that the government will analyze demand based on production costs, purchasing volumes, market conditions, and comparative prices in neighboring states before making a decision.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.