PONDA
Though the Goa State Co-operative Milk Producers Union Ltd (Goa Dairy) has not taken any step in this regard yet, it may be forced to increase milks rate when milk production drops during the lean season.
Speaking to The Goan, Goa Dairy Managing Director Dr Navasu Sawant said they have not decided anything in this regard, but admitted that the milk production across the country has dropped.
It may be recalled that the Goa Dairy had hiked the market rate of milk in June 2014 and had hiked the procurement rate of local milk from farmers in June 2015. When it faced market competition from the new entrant SUMUL, the Goa Dairy started losing farmers and was forced to give them the incentives by offering a competitive rate for milk supply.
On September 1, 2016, the Goa Dairy had revised the rates of toned milk and cow milk by Rs 4, while standard milk and full cream milk were hiked by Rs 3 per litre.
Presently, the full cream milk (high fat buffalo milk with 6.0 FAT and 9.0% SNF) cost the customer Rs 51, while pasteurized STD milk (4.5% FAT and 8.5% SNF) cost Rs 43, cow milk (3.5% FAT and 8.5% SNF) cost Rs 40 and toned milk (3.0% FAT and 8.5 % SNF) cost Rs 37.
A director of the Goa Dairy, on condition of anonymity, told The Goan that rates in Maharashtra have already been hiked by Rs 2 to 4. “Since the last one month, we have been procuring milk from neighbouring states at a high rate and selling it at a lower rate. This will definitely impact our business,” he said.
When asked whether they intend to hike the rate, he said: “Without that, we have no option, but we also don’t want to be part of inflation by hiking the rate. But if we don’t hike the rate, we will be in loss. Even the rate of fodder has gone up. We have to satisfy our farmers too by giving them financial support.”
During the lean season from April to July, Goa Dairy procures about 30,000 litres of milk from neighbouring states and local procurement is about 60,000 litres per day.
Sources informed that with drought prevailing in south India states, a drop in milk availability has been witnessed and hence milk brands were forced to increase prices, so as in Maharashtra.
