Price of milk to be hiked, tea to turn expensive from next month

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A decision has been taken to hike the price of milk in the state. The price hike will come into effect after the local body polls. Minister J Chinchu Rani informed the amount to be increased will be decided after the elections. The minister clarified that there will be a minor price hike and that the expert committee has recommended a rate hike. The minister added that the government will examine it if Milma requests and take a final decision.

The government decided to increase the price of milk because the cost of production has increased drastically. The minister had earlier informed the assembly that the maximum increase will be Rs 5. According to a study by a committee appointed by Milma in 2022, the cost of production of a liter of milk is Rs 49. After that, the price including fodder increased. Now, the average dairy farmer gets Rs 44 per liter. The price of milk was last increased in December 2022. Feed is produced in Kerala by importing raw materials including maize from other states. Straw and silage have to be brought from Tamil Nadu. The prices of these have also increased. With the increase in the price of milk, the price of tea will also increase.