The entry of Amul into milk trade in Telangana has literally put the cats among the pigeons.
Observers of the milk trade say milk is now a commodity for profit making and private milk companies, both local and international, have sought to monopolise the trade. Such efforts can be countered only if the State governments set a minimum price for both procurement and sale of milk. Amul began sales of packaged milk early this month and is currently charging Rs. 38 for a litre of toned milk. Only the State diary Vijaya is currently selling milk at that price. Other private providers sell for prices ranging between Rs. 40 and Rs. 42 per litre. On Tuesday, the city’s milk vendors affiliated to the Twin Cities Milk Vendors Welfare Association voiced their concerns about entry of major private brands into the milk trade. “If big companies sell at a price lower than the competition, this would affect all the sellers and the trade,” said V. Hanumanth Reddy, president of the association. Representatives of a few private brands were also present.
