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The farmers of Maharashtra demanded the state government to set up a milk price commission, where an average of 45 lakh kilograms of milk is procured every day. But farmers do not get fair price. Because of which farmers have been protesting by spilling milk on the roads for three years.
The farmers of Maharashtra, troubled by the very low price of milk, have now started pressurizing the government to increase its price annually by making a policy. Farmers have met Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and demanded to implement FRP (Fair and Remunerative Price) on milk and share the profits of the dairy industry, so that the income of dairy farmers can increase. In the last three years, the cost of raising animals has almost doubled, but the price of milk (Milk Price) has not shown any significant increase. Therefore, the farmers have raised the demand to increase its price every year on the basis of its report by constituting the Milk Price Commission.
Kisan Sabha leader Ajit Navale told that at present the dairy farmers are getting the price of milk at the rate of 30 to 35 rupees per liter. While the cost is Rs 39 per liter. The price of dry fodder and animal feed has increased significantly. Every year companies increase the price of milk for the consumers twice or twice but, they do not increase the price received by the dairy farmers. With the FRP fixed, no milk marketing company will be able to buy milk from farmers at a price lower than that.
Movement going on for three years
Maharashtra is one of the major milk producing states of the country. On an average, 45 lakh kg of milk is procured here every day. But don’t get good price. Because of which farmers have been protesting by spilling milk on the roads for three years. Ajit Navale says that the dairy farmers of the state are upset due to the volatility in milk procurement prices. Therefore, the Dairy Udyog Kisan Sangharsh Samiti is demanding FRP for the dairy farmers and a fair share of the profits of the dairy industry to the farmers.
What did the Deputy CM say?
The Deputy Chief Minister has assured to take a positive decision on the issue of FRP of milk. According to farmer leader Ajit Navale, he said that a detailed discussion will be held with the farmers before taking any decision on this subject. The farmer representatives had also demanded from him to stop the loot of farmers through milk meters, stop adulteration and formulate a policy on animal feed quality control.
How is the price of milk decided?
Farmers say that they are not getting fair price for milk. But companies have fixed a parameter to fix the price. The price varies according to the quality of the milk. Milk marketing companies fix its price on the basis of fat and SNF (Solids Not Fat). Its base is 6 percent fat and 9 percent SNF. Below and above this standard, there is an increase and decrease in the price.
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