PUNE: After Amul and Mother Dairy increased the prices of milk, local brands like Chitale and Gokul too have increased the price of cow milk by Rs 2 in the city which will be effective from Saturday (June 1).
A subsidy of Rs 5 which was given to dairy farmers by State government had been stopped from May 1. As reported earlier by Sakal Times, Dairy Development Department (Government of Maharashtra) have directed the dairies to pay farmers a price of Rs 25 per litre. Private and cooperative dairies decided to pay farmers Rs 25 per litre from June 1 and therefore, the price of cow milk is hiked.
“There is a hike of price in cow milk by Rs 2 which is effective from June 1. Earlier, the price of cow milk was Rs 42 but from June 1 the price of cow milk will be Rs 44,” said Gokul Dairy Managing Director (MD) Dattatraya Ghanekar. “The government have asked us to pay the farmers at least Rs 25 per litre, earlier we used to pay Rs 23. The subsidy given by the government has also been stopped since May 1. Therefore, we have decided to pay the farmers Rs 25 and hence, the price has been hiked. The cost of cattle fodder too have increased, playing a role in the current price rise of milk,” added Ghanekar
“The government has stopped the subsidy which they used to give earlier but we have decided to give farmers Rs 25 only and therefore, we have increased the price of cow milk by Rs 2,” said Shripad Chitale, Partner, Chitale Dairy.
However, brands like Katraj Dairy have not increased the price.
Vivek Ksheersagar, MD, Katraj Dairy, said, “We have decided to pay the farmers Rs 25 without increasing any further prices. Therefore, there will be no change in the price of Katraj milk.”
