1 day ago
Haryana Farmers Push Buffalo Milk Prices Toward ₹100 Per Litre
Dairy farmers in parts of Haryana want to charge more for milk.
They say the food, medicine and care needed for cows and buffaloes have become much more expensive.
They also say transport and labour costs have increased.
Farmers currently receive about ₹60 to ₹80 for a litre of milk.
Some groups want buffalo milk to cost ₹100 per litre and cow milk ₹80 per litre.
They have discussed these prices in villages across several districts.
One group said people selling below its prices could be fined ₹21,000.
A researcher said ₹100 for buffalo milk could be reasonable, but ₹80 for cow milk may be slightly high.
If the plan spreads, consumers in several districts may pay more for milk and related products.
Dairy farmers in several Haryana districts have proposed raising buffalo milk prices to ₹100 per litre.
The proposed rates include ₹80 per litre for cow milk and higher prices for some milk products.
Farmers cite increased costs for cattle feed, fodder, transport, medicines, labour and dairy animals.
Village and block-level dairy groups have warned of a ₹21,000 fine for selling below their announced rates.
The revised prices are scheduled to begin September 5 in Bhaini Amirpur, while similar meetings continue elsewhere.
- Who
- Dairy farmers, livestock owners and village- and block-level dairy associations in Haryana; researcher Richa Sharma also commented on the proposed rates.
- What
- Farmers are seeking higher milk and milk-product prices, including ₹100 per litre for buffalo milk, and have announced a ₹21,000 penalty for selling below their fixed rates.
- Where
- The proposal has been discussed in villages across Jind, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Rohtak and Hisar districts, including Bhaini Amirpur, Julana, Barna and Dhanauri.
- When
- The revised rates are planned from September 5 in Bhaini Amirpur; meetings were also held on Saturday and in other villages.
- Why
- Farmers say rising costs for cattle feed, fodder, transportation, medicines, labour and dairy animals have made current prices insufficient.
Dairy Farmers and Associations
Affordability and Price Concerns
Whether prices should rise
Dairy Farmers and Associations
Farmers say current rates of ₹60–₹80 per litre do not cover sharply increased feed, fodder, transport, medicine, labour and animal costs.
Affordability and Price Concerns
The proposed increases could raise prices for consumers in several Haryana districts; researcher Richa Sharma said ₹80 per litre for cow milk appeared slightly high.
Uniform enforcement
Dairy Farmers and Associations
Village- and block-level dairy groups are coordinating prices and warning of a ₹21,000 fine for sellers who charge below the announced rates.
Affordability and Price Concerns
The groups are largely informal associations, and the articles do not indicate whether the proposed penalty has been legally approved or formally enforced.
Reasonable buffalo-milk rate
Dairy Farmers and Associations
Farmers support a buffalo-milk price of ₹100 per litre, arguing that higher production costs justify the increase.
Affordability and Price Concerns
Richa Sharma agreed that ₹100 per litre for buffalo milk could be justified, but distinguished it from the proposed cow-milk price, which she considered somewhat high.
Key facts
- Proposed buffalo milk price
- ₹100 per litre
- Proposed cow milk price
- ₹80 per litre
- Current farmer price
- Approximately ₹60–₹80 per litre, depending on milk type and quality
- Proposed penalty
- ₹21,000 for selling milk or milk products below the announced rates
- Other proposed prices
- Buffalo-milk ghee at ₹1,500 per kg and cow-milk ghee at ₹2,500 per kg; lassi at ₹20 per litre
- Reported feed-cost increase
- Cattle feed rose from ₹1,800 to ₹3,000
- Reported wheat-fodder price
- Wheat fodder doubled to ₹1,000 per quintal
- Procurement request
- Dairy groups in some districts sought a ₹2–₹3 per kg increase in raw-milk procurement prices from Vita cooperative plants
Quotes
Richa Sharma
Researcher associated with the Supreme Court-appointed High Powered Committee on Agrarian Reforms
“The cost of cattle feed has increased from ₹1,800 to ₹3,000. The price of wheat fodder has doubled to ₹1,000 per quintal.”
livemint.com
“Based on input-cost studies, cow milk can be remunerative for farmers at ₹70 per kg”
livemint.com
Dairy Operators’ Association
Association representing dairy operators involved in announcing milk and milk-product prices
“Anyone selling milk and milk products below the aforesaid prices will be fined ₹21,000”
livemint.com









