Members of the Milk Producers and Employees’ Struggle Committee and the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha have urged the State government to hike the minimum procurement price of milk to Rs. 25 a litre. To pressure the government to meet their demand, they will take out a rally to Vidhana Soudha on Monday.
Speaking to presspersons here on Saturday, State president of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha Maruthi Manpade said that a large number of farmers depend on dairy farming to earn their livelihood. But, the spiralling price of animal fodder has resulted in farmers earning very little profit. So, Mr. Manpade said, the government should fix the milk procurement price at Rs. 25 a litre and protect the interests of the milk producers.
‘Support KMF’
Mr. Manpade urged the government to drop the decision it had taken to promote private dairy owners in the State. Instead, he said that the government should support the Karnataka Milk Federation and farmers who are dependent on it for their livelihood.
Mr. Manpade said that KMF’s other demands include providing 150 ml of milk to anganwadi workers and government schoolchildren along with midday meals, checking corrupt practices in the KMF and providing employees’ provident fund facilities to those working in the Milk Cooperative Societies.
