The Kerala Dairy Farmers’ Association has announced a strike on May 16, demanding that the price for milk procurement be increased to ₹70 per litre.
Currently, farmers receive only ₹43 per litre from cooperative societies, while the cost of producing milk has risen to ₹65. This price gap has pushed many farmers out of the dairy business, and several dairy societies have shut down due to reduced milk collection, according to the association’s president, Biju Vattamukulel.
The association has already submitted a memorandum to the Chairman of Milma’s Ernakulam Regional Union, requesting an urgent hike in the milk procurement price. Also Read | Women farmers in ‘dairy dilemma’ with sudden drop in milk price
Rising costs across the board are making dairy farming in Kerala unsustainable. The association pointed out several challenges, such as increasing fodder prices, higher wages for workers, rising costs of cultivating grass, often worsened by climate change, as well as more expensive veterinary services and growing electricity and water bills.
Adding to the concern, the number of cows in Kerala has dropped by 37% since the 2019 livestock census. This decline has made the state more dependent on milk from neighboring states. The association stressed that unless farmers are paid at least ₹70 per litre, milk production in Kerala will continue to fall, and the sector will become even less attractive.
They also highlighted the growing demand for milk in the state. A study by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) predicts that by 2030, demand will reach 35.2 lakh tonnes. The association believes this growing demand is an opportunity to increase local milk production by at least 50% by 2030—if farmers are given the right support.
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