‘Hike in milk price inadvisable'

Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran has said that there was a shortage of three lakh litres in the production of milk in the State, considering the level of consumption.

Delivering the inaugural address at the opening of a new video endoscopy unit at the district veterinary centre and a district seminar thereafter, Mr. Divakaran said that milk was being brought from outside the State to make good this shortage. Mr. Divakaran said that hiking the price would not resolve the milk shortage nor does it provide a solution to the problems faced by the dairy farmers.

He reminded that it was after he took charge that dairy farmers received a Rs. 5 hike on curd.

The minister said that he was in the dark about the reasons that led to the Ernakulam region of Milma hiking the price of milk and then subsequently rolling it back.