CH NEWS
BENGALURU
The Bangalore Urban, Rural and Ramanagara District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Societies’ Union Ltd (BAMUL) has urged the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to investigate steep discounts offered by quick-commerce platforms on milk and other dairy products, warning that such pricing could harm the cooperative dairy ecosystem.
In a letter addressed to the competition regulator and Narendra Modi, BAMUL president D. K. Suresh expressed concern over reports that some online platforms have started selling milk at as low as ₹1 per litre as part of promotional campaigns.
Suresh said such aggressive discount-driven strategies could disrupt the traditional supply chain and threaten the livelihood of farmers who depend on cooperative networks for stable prices and assured procurement of milk.
According to BAMUL, predatory pricing by large digital platforms could weaken milk cooperatives that operate on thin margins while ensuring fair payments to producers. If such practices continue unchecked, they may undermine the financial stability of the cooperative system that supports millions of dairy farmers across the country.
The union also warned that thousands of small neighbourhood retailers could be affected, as dairy products form a major part of their daily sales. Heavy discounts offered online could divert customers away from local stores, impacting their income and sustainability.
Suresh urged the CCI to examine whether the steep price cuts amount to predatory pricing or abuse of dominant market position by digital commerce companies. He stressed that protecting India’s dairy ecosystem is vital, as it plays a key role in rural employment and has helped the country become one of the world’s largest milk producers.
BAMUL said timely regulatory intervention would help maintain fair competition while safeguarding farmers’ interests and the long-standing cooperative dairy model.