Farmers forced to resort to throwing away excess production as state does not fulfill promise to buy their entire production.
The Milk producing farmers across the state have launched a state-wide agitation to press the demand of Rs.30 per liter rate for their milk. They are also demanding cancellation of proposed import of milk powder by Modi government.
The Milk producers Farmers Organization has announced one day state-wide agitation on 21st July 2020, to highlight various problems of milk producers. Taking note of these problems, the state government has summoned a meeting on this issue on Tuesday at Mantralaya, head-quarter of state government. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 2 PM with Dairy Development minister Sunil Kedar.
Milk producer farmers across the state agitated for the demand. Terming the central and state government as insensitive as a stone, the milk were poured on the stone across the state by farmers to symbolically condemn both governments.
The State has about 46 lakh milk producer farmers and milk dairies which purchased milk at Rs. 33-34 liter have reduced the procurement price to ₹18-19 per litre after the Covid-19 outbreak.
” Out of 1.19 crore liter daily milk production in the State, 47 lakh liter is remaining unsold putting milk producer farmers under immense distress. The state government has announced that it would give Rs. 30 to 35 per liter of the milk. The government appointed committee of experts from Agriculture University have fixed Rs. 27 per liter for the milk having 3.5 per cent fat and 8.5 of Solid Not Fat (SNF). But government agreed to give Rs. 25 per liter. Till lock down, all milk cooperative societies were purchasing milk for Rs. 25 per liter from farmers till lock-down. But post lock down, the rate was reduced at Rs.17 to 18 per liter. Gradually, many milk societies stopped to purchase this milk. Currently, such purchase is going on only in 13 Tehsils of the state,” Dr. Ajit Navale, General Secretary of Milk producer farmers Association said.
” After we raised voices against pending stock of milk, state announced that it will buy 10 Lakh Liter of milk per day. But it is buying only 5 Lakh liter per day. That too, this purchase is being done by milk powder companies on behalf of state government. These companies pay money to farmers and then state pay them this amount. The state government also extend them benefits of subsidy and conversion fee to convert milk into powder. In this process, in the name of milk producers, milk powder companies are making money. We have appealed government that instead of giving money to these companies, government should give Rs. 30 per liter rate for milk and subsidy of Rs. 10 per liter should be transferred directly into their Aadhar linked Bank account,” Dr. Navale stressed.
“About 86 lakh liter milk is sold in pouches. But due to lock down, this sale has come down to 67 lakh liter per day. This has affected procurement price and has added immense burden on farmers” said Raju Shetty former Lok Sabha MP and President of Milk Producer Farmers Organization.
“While stocks of milk powder are lying unsold, the Modi government has signed an agreement to import 10 Lakh tonnes of milk powder. Earlier, such agreements were being done with concerned countries but now the Milk powder producing companies or their Association can ink such agreement. India has inked such agreements with companies. This agreement should be immediately scrapped,” Dr. Navale also demanded.
BJP tried to hijack agitation?
While the protest was announced by Milk Producer Farmers Association, BJP suddenly joined this on Tuesday. As BJP’s prominent leaders participated in this protest, party indirectly painted a picture as if this was their agitation.
” The BJP should not hijack this agitation to get political benefits,” Navale taunted BJP.
Interestingly the Government of Devendra Fadnavis faced a similar agitation in 2018, when it was in power and then the shoe was on the other foot.