COVID-19 Lockdown: Dairy Farmers in Huge Crisis as Milk Prices Fall in Maharashtra

One side Locust attack is creating total wreckage in Maharashtra and on the other side dairy farmers are facing hard times as milk prices witnessed sudden fall.  As per reports, the procurement prices of milk have been dipped by 20 to 50 per cent. While they are facing a decline in their income, they are unable to provide proper fodder to cattle.  

As per reports, farmers who used to make processed milk products such as curd, butter, ghee and khoya as a cottage industry, now sell milk at lower rates in the market due to the lower demand of milk.  

Ajit Navale, Farmer leader and General Secretary (Maharashtra) of All India  Kisan Sabha, said that due to the lockdown, milk demand from restaurants, tea stalls and sweet shops has come to a standstill. The State Government has assured that 11 lakh litres of excess milk will be procured per day from farmers by the cooperative dairies for which funds would be provided by the State Government. However, it has not translated into additional income for the farmers. 

Moreover, Navale said that before the lockdown, cow milk was sold by farmers at ₹30 to ₹35; today, it has dipped to ₹20 to ₹22. In some places, it has even dipped to ₹12 per litre. This milk is being procured by private dairies.  

According to Business Line reports, farmer Arpan Sontakke from village Takarkheda More, Anjangaon Surji taluk in Amravati district, is also in the same boat. Milk was being procured around Anjangaon Surji at ₹38 per litre; this has now slid to ₹27 per litre. Due to the losses, he has already sold one cow to another farmer. 

Moreover, since income has declined, the animals too are getting lesser feed.