Karnataka Dairy Farmers Demand Adoption of Amul Model Following Milk Price Hike

Following the recent increase in prices of milk, curd, and other dairy products in Karnataka, farmer organisations in the state have presented several key demands to the state government and the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). While the farmers have approved the price hike implemented by the government, they have requested that the overall cost of milk production be determined and a fair procurement price be fixed according to the C2+50% principle of the Swaminathan Commission.

According to Badgalpur Nagendra, President of the Karnataka State Ryot Sangha in Bengaluru, there is a need to increase investment in milk collection, refrigeration, processing, and value addition. He stated that farmers associated with animal husbandry and agriculture in the state have the capacity to produce over 1 crore litres of milk, and the KMF should work towards utilising this capacity. Nagendra emphasised that this would only be possible if the system is strengthened economically and kept free from political interference, similar to the Amul model. He demanded the conduct of fair elections in the KMF so that elected representatives can work without vested interests.

Nagendra further added that the Amul model is more robust in terms of marketing strategy, infrastructure development, and establishing a presence in other states, which directly benefits the farming community. Additionally, farmers have demanded improvements in animal health, vaccination, artificial insemination, and breed improvement facilities at the village level, as the majority of dairy farmers reside in rural areas. They suggested that proper insurance cover be provided for cows and buffaloes, similar to crop failure insurance.

Highlighting the drought conditions and shortage of fodder in the state, Nagendra stated that while cattle feed is currently provided by the KMF, its quality must be improved and it should be provided at affordable prices. He demanded the promotion of local fodder production by providing high-yielding seeds to farmers at the Gram Panchayat level. Furthermore, a demand was made to develop a system where maize, produced in large quantities in Karnataka, can be used for cattle feed at a lower cost.

On the other hand, T.N. Prakash Kammaradi, Professor of Agricultural Economics at the Bengaluru University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS-B), stated that the government should provide milk and curd to children in Anganwadis. He advocated for the inclusion of milk and curd in the nutritional food bucket along with grains under the National Food Security Act. He suggested that this facility should be provided through mid-day meals by local cooperative milk unions to support women and child nutrition programmes.

Professor Kammaradi has demanded strict action against the inconsistent price hikes of tea and coffee by hotels. He argued that approximately 20 cups of tea or coffee can be made from one litre of milk at home or in a hotel, with water also being added. Despite this, increasing the price of a cup from ₹20 to ₹30 is not justified. Terming this as 'daylight robbery' of consumers, he requested the government to regulate the prices of food items in hotels. According to a report by The Hindu, farmers have also demanded that milk and curd be included in the food security basket for distribution in Anganwadis.