VALPOI
Accusing the Goa Dairy Federation and the State government of being indifferent to issues faced by milk producers, farmers’ organisations have announced an agitation demanding an increase in milk prices.
The protest will be held in front of the Goa Dairy Federation office at Curti on Wednesday at 9.30 am.
According to farmer representatives, dairy farmers in Goa have been facing several difficulties for the past three to four years. The base price for milk is not being paid on time, and despite a long period having passed, there has been no increase in milk procurement rates. As a result, many dairy farmers in the State are running their operations at a loss.
In addition, they said the lack of timely veterinary services and increasing production costs have forced several farmers to either reduce or shut down their dairy activities. It is also stated that milk production in Goa has declined nearly two-and-half times over the past 10-12 years.
In this context, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and the Dudh Utpadak Utkarsh Sanghatana have decided to launch a statewide agitation to draw the government’s attention to the issue.
In the first phase, efforts will be made to secure a hike in milk prices and improvements in the base procurement rate.
Farmer leaders Sanjeev Balaji Kunkalyekar and Sujay Prabhudesai have appealed to dairy farmers and directors of cooperative societies across the State to gather in large numbers at the Goa Dairy Federation office in Curti at 9.30 am on Wednesday, and to demonstrate their collective strength.
