Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday, October 31, defended the state’s Rs 8-per-litre milk price increase, saying it was needed to protect farmers while the state faces a severe drought.
The state Cabinet approved the increase on Thursday, October 29, for all categories of milk. Shivakumar said milk producers had asked for Rs 12 per litre.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said farmers were sending milk to neighboring states, where prices are much higher, and that drought had cut production and reduced availability. “We have no other option,” he said.
He argued that protecting cattle means feeding them well, which requires fodder, and that farmers can only supply fodder if they have money in hand. Without that, he said, production would keep falling.
Shivakumar also said the decision reflected respect for the cow, revered as a mother, and a commitment to protecting cattle. He said the government had considered the move carefully given the drought, and that milk prices had not been revised for several years.
Asked about the Rs 14-per-kg rise in Nandini curd, he said curd prices were for the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to decide. He said the government had stepped in only on milk prices, and that prices for products with higher fat content rise accordingly.
In a later post on X, Shivakumar said the government remained committed to protecting dairy farmers’ livelihoods while keeping Nandini products affordable. He said Karnataka has 28.84 lakh dairy farmers and that small and marginal farmers make up 67% of KMF members. He called the decision a significant step toward fair pay for their work.
He said that even after the revision, Nandini toned milk will cost Rs 54 per litre, below the prices of several major dairy brands in India. Nandini Shubham milk, with 4.5% fat, will cost Rs 60 per litre, compared with an average of Rs 62.80 in 10 other states, he said.