Aavin milk supply to the city remained unaffected on Wednesday despite a strike by milk producers in the State seeking a hike in procurement prices.
The Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation, popularly known as Aavin, supplies around 11.50 lakh litres of milk a day to the city and suburbs.
R. Sridharan, a resident of Kodambakkam, said he had been worried after having read news reports of the strike. However, he said, Aavin milk packets were delivered at his home on time on Wednesday, the second day of the strike.
Sources in Aavin said on Monday, the procurement stood at 21.69 lakh litres and on Tuesday, it was 21.30 lakh litres from 8,000 societies in the State.
“Only a total of 34 societies did not supply milk and in 166, supply was partially affected. Milk supply was maintained all over the State,” said a source.
Asked about the producers’ demand for hike in procurement prices, the source explained the State government had hiked procurement prices only recently. “The hike came into effect from January 1, 2014. The price of cow milk has gone up from Rs. 20 to Rs. 23 per litre and buffalo milk from Rs. 28 to Rs. 31 per litre,” he said.
Strike to continue
Tamil Nadu Milk Producers’ Welfare Association president K.A. Sengottuvel said the effected hike of Rs. 3 per litre was not sufficient when the cost of production was Rs. 34 per litre.
“Due to an increase in cost of cattle feed, we had sought a hike of Rs. 10 per litre. We were not consulted when the latest hike was affected,” he said, adding the strike would continue.
N. Ganesan, the association’s joint secretary, said even though the hike was Rs. 3 per litre, only those supplying milk with 4.5 per cent solids that are not fat (SNF) get Rs. 23 per litre. “Otherwise we get only Rs. 21- Rs. 22. When private dairies pay Rs. 27 – Rs. 28 a litre, many producers are wondering why they should continue with the cooperative societies,” he said.
