Intensifying its protest against the slash in milk procurement percentage by the Omfed, a large number of dairy farmers on Friday hit the streets here demanding withdrawal of the “arbitrary” decision and better facilities for them.
The farmers took to the streets along with their cattle in front of the State Assembly here under the banner of the All Odisha Milk Farmers’ Mahasangha. The protestors also poured milk on roads.
“Nearly 2.80 lakh milk farmers used to sell nearly 6 lakh litre of milk daily and earn Rs 26 per litre and manage their livelihood. But on March, 31, the Omfed directed 3,649 primary milk cooperative societies to collect 30 per cent less milk, resulting in distress sale,” alleged Mahasangha president Rabi Behera.
Behera further alleged that even after slashing the milk procurement quantity, the Omfed has declared a Milk Holiday in every ten days which is adding to the farmers’ woes.
Earlier, the milk farmers had also protested in Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts by pouring milk on roads and demanding a minimum support price of Rs 30 per litre, a Rs 200-daily allowance to the secretary of milk cooperative society and interest-free loan.
later, a delegation met Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy and submitted a memorandum to him highlighting the plight of the milk farmers.
The Minister assured to convene a tripartite discussion between the Mahasangha, the Omfed and the Government on May 25 to discuss on the demands.