Mumbaikars face milk price hike ahead of festive season
The price of fresh buffalo milk supplied from cattle sheds in Mumbai rose by Rs 9 per litre to Rs 102 on Tuesday, September 1, putting an additional burden on household budgets ahead of the festive season.
According to the Mumbai Milk Producers' Welfare Association (MMPA), the revised wholesale rate will remain in effect until February 28, 2027, to offset a 60 to 70 per cent increase in the cost of acquiring milch animals and a 25 per cent rise in feed prices.
"The wholesale price hike by Rs 9 per litre from September 1 means retail rates may also shoot up to Rs 115-125 per litre or more, depending on the localities served, and the local demand," MMPA chairman C K Singh said.
The decision was taken at the association's bi-annual general body meeting. The MMPA supplies fresh buffalo milk through a network of dairies, neighbourhood retailers and farms.
The latest increase is the steepest in the 70-year history of the association. The previous hike, announced in February, had raised the price from Rs 91 to Rs 93 per litre.
The increase is expected to affect milk demand, which generally rises by 35 to 40 per cent during the festive and wedding seasons as households and commercial establishments prepare large quantities of sweets.
It could also push up the prices of milk-based beverages, chilled and frozen desserts and other dairy products.
MMPA members attributed the increase to the rising cost of maintaining and feeding buffaloes.
Singh said prices of milch animals had risen by 60 to 70 per cent, while feed items such as "dana", "tuvar", "chuni" and "chana-chuni" had become around 25 per cent more expensive on average. The cost of grass and hay had also increased, he added.
Mumbai consumes more than 50 lakh litres of buffalo milk every day, of which MMPA members supply over 7 lakh litres, Singh said.
The latest price increase comes ahead of major festivals, including Ganesh festival, Navratri, Diwali, Christmas and Ramzan, as well as the wedding season.