In Tamil Nadu, Dairy farmers went on a strike on Friday demanding better procurement prices for milk from the state-run Aavin dairy cooperative, in the past few days, as the shortage of milk has been leading to delays in the delivery of milk packets across the state.
The farmers emptied cans of milk as part of the strike on several roads in western Tamil Nadu and demanded that the state government increase the procurement price for milk by cooperative societies. The dairy farmers also threatened that they will heighten their agitation and will stop supplying milk to Aavin, which could lead to further problems.
According to the sources, Aavin already has a shortage of about 9 to 10 lakh litres a day, which could further increase in the upcoming days. The shortage has already led to delays in the delivery of milk packets to people across the state. The prices of Aavin milk are much cheaper than the ones sold by private companies.
President V Rajendran, Tamil Nadu Milk Producers' Welfare Association (TNMPWA) said, they have sought a rise of Rs 7 per litre from Rs 35 to Rs 42 for cow milk and Rs 51 from Rs 44 for buffalo milk. Also, he added to this, “About our demands which are quite reasonable we have already communicated to the government and the price revision we want is much less than the prices given by private milk-producing firms”.
One of the milk suppliers also said that they are even considering halting the supply of milk to the cooperative societies if the government fails to increase the rates. He also said, “Why should we sell milk at a much cheaper rate when private firms give us more? We want to sell to Aavin and that is why we are negotiating. Hope the government notices our request”.
Although the government said, in Tamil Nadu, there was no shortage of milk and dismissed the protests by milk suppliers. Also, S M Naser, Dairy Development Minister said, “Only a few of them are on the roads protesting, but others are supplying. There is no issue”.
