CH NEWS, BENGALURU
Consumers across Karnataka are facing the prospect of an added financial burden as regional dairy cooperatives push for a substantial revision in retail dairy rates. Prominent district milk producers’ unions—including BAMUL, CHAMUL, the Mandya Milk Union, and Tumakuru—have collectively demanded an immediate price increase of eight rupees per liter for popular Nandini milk variants.
Dairy farmers and cooperative leaders argue that rising operational costs have made production unsustainable. Speaking to media representatives in Bengaluru, former Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) Director Veerabhadrababu outlined the mounting pressures forcing the hike. Producers point to a severe severe drought coupled with a seventy percent rainfall deficit that has triggered an acute shortage of green and dry fodder. Additionally, ingredient expenses for cattle feed—such as maize, oil cakes, and molasses—have surged by twenty-five percent, alongside higher costs for cattle bedding materials and transportation fuel spikes driven by global crude oil trends.
To press their demands, milk producers have organized a statewide campaign, issuing a strict three-day deadline to state authorities. Leaders warned that if the government fails to approve the price adjustment within the stipulated window, farmers from every district will launch a massive march toward the state secretariat, known as ‘Vidhana Soudha Chalo’, starting September 22.
A final decision now rests with the state administration, which must balance the economic viability of struggling dairy farmers against the impact on households already managing high inflation across essential household commodities. Further announcements from the government regarding the proposed pricing strategy are anticipated ahead of the upcoming farmer protests.