Hyderabad: Milk consumers are hit yet again. In the last 10 days, milk prices of private dairies have gone up by Rs 2 to Rs 6 per litre. The rate of toned milk is sold at Rs 50 now and that of whole milk Rs 68 per litre.
The state-run Vijaya Dairy toned milk costs Rs 48 per litre, while private dairies like Tirumala, Arokya, Dodla, Tirumala and Heritage are selling at Rs 48 to Rs 50. The price of Amul milk, which is sold at Rs 46 a litre, is also likely to go up in the next few days, said sources.
Officials attribute the spiralling effect in prices to milk production seeing a dip in Telangana. With production taking a hit, the rates have been witnessing an upward trend. Officials said this phenomenon of milk shortage happens once five years.
One main reason for the shortfall in the production, officials say, could be due to dairy farmers switching over to agriculture. “With ground water levels going up and irrigated water supply increasing, many dairy farmers got into farming as they thought it is more lucrative,” an official said.
While this has led to reduction in milk production, officials point out that it has also caused less procurement of milk. “We are forced to increase the rates as farmers are expecting higher returns,” a representative of a private dairy said. Traders said the farmers were supplying milk to only those who are offering them a better price.
The government-owned Vijaya Dairy has also increased milk procurement rate from Rs 2 toRs 4 in this month alone.
There are about two lakh farmers who sell milk to dairies run by cooperative societies in Karimnagar and Mulkanoor. Apart from these, there are 22 lakh independent dairy farmers who own cattle and sell milk.
The state-run Vijaya Dairy toned milk costs Rs 48 per litre, while private dairies like Tirumala, Arokya, Dodla, Tirumala and Heritage are selling at Rs 48 to Rs 50. The price of Amul milk, which is sold at Rs 46 a litre, is also likely to go up in the next few days, said sources.
Officials attribute the spiralling effect in prices to milk production seeing a dip in Telangana. With production taking a hit, the rates have been witnessing an upward trend. Officials said this phenomenon of milk shortage happens once five years.
One main reason for the shortfall in the production, officials say, could be due to dairy farmers switching over to agriculture. “With ground water levels going up and irrigated water supply increasing, many dairy farmers got into farming as they thought it is more lucrative,” an official said.
While this has led to reduction in milk production, officials point out that it has also caused less procurement of milk. “We are forced to increase the rates as farmers are expecting higher returns,” a representative of a private dairy said. Traders said the farmers were supplying milk to only those who are offering them a better price.
The government-owned Vijaya Dairy has also increased milk procurement rate from Rs 2 toRs 4 in this month alone.
There are about two lakh farmers who sell milk to dairies run by cooperative societies in Karimnagar and Mulkanoor. Apart from these, there are 22 lakh independent dairy farmers who own cattle and sell milk.
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