Kerala - Kochi   

Dairy farmers hope for betters returns

KOCHI: Price of all varieties of Milma brand milk from Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation goes up by Rs.2 a litre from Tuesday amidst a general opinion that if at least Rs.1.50 of this increase reached the farmers directly across the board, it would draw more farmers to Milma collection centres.

While some of the primary milk cooperatives appear to have decided to pay Rs.1.50 a litre more to the farmers across the board, the others are yet to take a decision as they await the directive from the Milk Marketing Federation.

T.P. Markose, chairman of Ernakulam Regional Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited (ERCMPU), said that he expected the present hike in purchasing price to help the farmers substantially. He also said that a new chart would be prepared to determine the quality of the milk being procured by the federation as payment of 50 paisa per litre would be based on the Solid Not Fat (SNF) content in the milk.

Mr. Markose said that the Milma brand was able to lead the Kerala market because of the assured quality. The situation was such that other milk brands were being bought only when Milma brand was not available, he added.

The government decision to increase Rs.2 a litre takes effect as Rs.1 per litre across all qualities of milk, 50 paisa more for those that meet the quality requirement and 50 paisa towards Milma’s expenses on procurement, processing etc.

As per the new price list, Milma’s toned and double toned milk (500 ml packs) will cost Rs.9.50 from Tuesday. At the same time the Jersey sub-brand from Enakulam dairy will cost Rs.8.50 per 400 ml pack. The decision to hike milk procurement and selling prices has evoked varying reactions from the primary cooperatives. While a cooperative in Angamaly block has more or less decided to pay Rs.1.50 across the board to the farmers, there are others which are not sure of the next step. An office-bearer of another cooperative in Angmaly block said that the present hike in procurement was not very attractive given the ground realities. He said that though there were 269 members in the cooperative, there were only 27 members who were supplying milk to the cooperative.

At another cooperative, the number of active members had come down to 40 from earlier 80. The average quantity of milk collection had dipped to 200.

Meanwhile, the Kerala State Consumer Welfare Organisation has slammed the tendency on the part of the Milk Marketing Federation to exploit the consumers through frequent price hikes. Mathew Paul, organisation member, said that the government could have intervened to provide some relief to the consumers, milk being an essential item of daily use.

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