In a development which does not augur well for the cooperative movement of the country, Tamil Nadu has objected to Amul’s procurement of milk from state’s farmers.
According to media reports, Tamil Nadu Chief minister M K Stalin has urged Union home minister Amit Shah to stop Gujarat-based milk cooperative Amul from procuring milk from farmers saying it will harm Tamil Nadu’s milk cooperative Aavin’s growth.
The fact that this is more political than any real attempt to help the local farmers is obvious from the fact that while Aavin pays Rs 32 to 34 for a litre of milk procured from farmers, Amul is giving Rs 36 per litre and collection agents are provided 50 paise per litre on the spot.
The Indian Cooperative is of the view that the growth of multistate co-ops will get choked if every state starts behaving this way. This would be a disservice to the co-op movement of the country.
Stalin’s move seems patterned on the Congress campaign against Amul foraying into Karnataka despite the fact the two had been collaborating for more than two decades. It is nothing other than negative politics.
