Milk price will be hiked, says Minister Chinchu Rani, announcement later this month

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: J Chinchu Rani, Minister of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development, has stated that there is other way than increasing the milk price in the state. The minister said that the farmers can move forward only if the price of milk is increased. The Minister said the hike will not be below Rs 5 and the government has to care for the farmers and the public alike. The exact announcement regarding the hike will be made this month. Chinchu Rani also clarified that Milma will make the price announcement.

The proposal is to increase the price of milk in the state by Rs 8 per litre. The interim report was given by the committee appointed by Milma. Representatives of all the three unions held an emergency meeting to discuss the price hike.

The assessment of the committee is that only if the price is increased between Rs 7 to 8 per litre, the farmer will get at least Rs 6 after commission and other costs. The farmers had complained that even though the milk price was increased last time, after the commission, they received only Rs 3.66. Milma has increased the price of a litre by four rupees last time.