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Milk to cost more

BHUBANESWAR: The State-run Orissa State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (OMFED), the undisputed leader in supply of packed milk in the State, announced Rs. 2 hike per litre of milk to be sold in the State from February 1.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, OMFED chairman Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said the rise in milk price was necessitated due to surge in cost of raw material such as polythene, chemical products, transportation and other materials.

From February 1, the per litre milk with fat more than 3 per cent, would be available at Rs. 22 in stead of present Rs.20 per litre of milk, Mr. Mohapatra said. Similarly, per litre skimmed milk would go up by Re. 1.

OMFED also decided to make milk with 1.5 per cent fat and 9 per cent solid not fat (SNF) at Rs. 20 per litre available. The milk would be particularly help children, elderly and patients for easy digestion. Moreover, the federation also decided increase milk procurement prices from Rs. 13.76 per litre to Rs. 15 keeping in view the rise in prices of fodder and other raw material in preparing cow feed. “The hike in procurement prices will surely encourage milk farmers to take up dairy. We have also decided to reintroduce two-axis pricing policy which would enable farmers to get more price for their milk and it would help quality of milk in the State,” Mr. Mohapatra said.

The OMFED chairman said under two-axis pricing, farmers would be paid procurement price depending on the presence of percentage of fat and SNF in their product.

The State-level federation has now more than 98 per cent of market share in supply of packet milk. At present it was supplying milk over 4 lakh litres per day through authorised milk booths, which saw more than 30 per cent growth compared to previous year.

He said the federation was trying to achieve a business turnover of over Rs. 300 crore per year.

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