Milk to be dearer from September 1

A decision to the effect was taken by the The Maharashtra Rajya Dudh Vyavasaik Sanghatana at a state level meeting on Monday.

The association said the price hike was inevitable in the light of the recent decision taken by the state government to pay higher rates to the farmers. Government has also hiked the commission of the milk collecting organisation by 50 paise per litre.

The wholesale rate for the milk was increased by Rs 1 by the association in June claiming it would not affect the retail price.

“Due to the the new directives by the government we are actually spending Rs 2 extra on a litre of cow milk. But we have taken a decision to raise the price only by Rs 1,” said Rambhau Tule,president of the Pune District Cooperative Milk Producers Association.

According to the Maharashtra Rajya Dudh Vyavasaik Sanghatana,dairies will now have to pay Rs 2.50 extra for buying a litre of buffalo milk though the retail price hike is only Rs 2 per liter.

Maximum retail price for cow milk will be Rs 30,currently being Rs 29,and maximum retail price of buffalo milk will increase to Rs 40 from Rs 38.

Food Safety & Standards Act 2006 was implemented in the country on August 5 which makes it compulsory for the dairies to pack the milk in a polythene which can not be tempered with.

“The old packing material was low density poly ethylene which used to cost us 70-90 paise depending on the color and design. We are estimating the the new material would cost us 50 paise more per bag,” said Prakash Kutwal,secretary of Maharashtra Rajya Dudh Vyavasaik Sanghatana.