Dinesh Gooli Gowda, MLC, has urged the State government to announce an increase in the milk subsidy by ₹2 in the upcoming State Budget.
Even though the farmers were currently receiving a subsidy of ₹5 a litre, an increase in the subsidy by ₹2 was necessary given the rising production costs and declining output of milk.
In an appeal to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Mr. Gooli Gowda pointed out that around 15.26 lakh dairy farmers across the State were supplying milk daily to 16 cooperative milk unions in their respective districts. About 83 lakh litres of milk is produced every day, he said while adding that dairy farmers were presently receiving ₹5 for every litre of milk as subsidy from the government.
Acknowledging the Congress government’s efforts to clear the milk subsidy amounting to ₹900 crore, which the erstwhile BJP government left pending from 2018 to 2023, Mr. Gowda appreciated the government for the timely release of subsidy during the last year, including the recent disbursement of ₹200 crore as incentives, which was very beneficial to the farmers.
He said the State government currently spends ₹1,250 crore annually on milk subsidies benefiting 98% of the dairy farmers who meet the required standards of 3.5% fat and 8.5% Solids Not Fat (SNF) content.
Underscoring the rising cost of cattle feed and shortage of fodder, Mr. Gooli Gowda said dairy farming was becoming less profitable and leading to a decline in milk production. He said milk production had dropped by seven lakh litres last month compared to the previous month, while only nine lakh out of the 15 lakh dairy farmers supplying milk to the cooperative milk unions.
Reminding the Congress party’s pre-poll promise of increasing milk subsidy, Mr. Gooli Gowda urged the government to announce the hike in milk subsidy in the upcoming State Budget.
Given the fodder scarcity during the summer and rising prices of cattle feed affecting milk production, Mr. Gooli Gowda urged the government to provide a subsidy of ₹100 per quintal on cattle feed to encourage farmers to increase its usage and boost milk production.
He urged the government to consider both these demands in the upcoming Budget to support dairy farmers and sustain milk production in the State.
Dairynews7x7 Feb 10th 2025 The Hindu