In a farmer-focused decision, Kolhapur Zilla Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh Ltd., better known as Gokul Dairy, has increased the procurement price for cow and buffalo milk by ₹1 per litre, effective September 1, 2025. The hike will channel an estimated ₹4–5 crore additional income per month into the hands of Kolhapur’s milk producers.
Alongside this revision, Gokul has approved:
- Higher incentives and building subsidies for small dairies (raised by ₹8,000–₹10,000 depending on collection volumes).
- A relaxation in cattle shed subsidy eligibility, lowering the herd size threshold from five to four animals, and widening access for smallholder farmers.
Currently, Gokul collects 16 lakh litres daily from around 7,500 small dairies, and is eyeing the 20-lakh-litre milestone in the near future.
📊 How Gokul Compares with Other Maharashtra Cooperatives
Maharashtra’s dairy sector has seen volatile procurement pricing over the past year, with cooperatives taking divergent paths. Below is a comparison of recent procurement price changes by leading dairies:
| Cooperative (Brand) | Latest Action | Applies To | Effective Date | New Baseline (if stated) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gokul Dairy (Kolhapur Zilla Sahakari) | +₹1/L hike | Cow & buffalo | September 1 2025 | — | Times of India – Kolhapur |
| Katraj Dairy (Pune District Cooperative) | +₹1/L hike | Cow (3.5% fat, 8.5% SNF) | August 27 2025 | — | Sakal (Marathi) |
| +₹2/L hike | Cow (3.5%/8.5%) | early May 2025 (reported May 14) | — | Indian Express – Pune | |
| Context rate ₹33/L | Cow (3.5%/8.5%) | August 1 2025 | ₹33/L | Bridge Chronicle – Pune | |
| Warana Dairy (Shree Warana Sahakari, Kolhapur/Sangli) | −₹3/L cut | Cow | November 25 2024 | — | Mid-Day |
| Prevailing base after cut | Cow (3.5%/8.5%) | January 5 2025 (report date) | ₹30/L | Tarun Bharat (Marathi) | |
| Rajarambapu Dairy (Krushna Sangh, Sangli/Satara) | −₹3/L cut | Cow | November 25 2024 | — | Mid-Day |
| Prevailing base after cut | Cow (3.5%/8.5%) | January 5 2025 (report date) | ₹30/L | Tarun Bharat (Marathi) | |
| Mahananda Dairy (Maharashtra State Coop Milk Fed.) | +₹1/L hike | Cow | Dec 2022 | ₹36/L → ₹37/L | Times of India – Mumbai |
| +₹1/L hike | Cow | Feb 2023 | ₹35/L → ₹37/L | Times of India – Mumbai |
🐄 Key Takeaways
- Gokul Dairy’s move is the latest hike in Maharashtra, effective September 1, 2025. It comes at a time when cooperatives like Warana and Rajarambapu have held procurement at ₹30/L since late 2024, frustrating farmers in Kolhapur and Sangli.
- Katraj Dairy in Pune has been most active in 2025, implementing a ₹2/L hike in May, followed by another ₹1/L in August, and pegging the base procurement price around ₹33/L.
- Mahananda Dairy, Maharashtra’s state federation, last hiked procurement rates in early 2023 but has not announced any revisions since then.
- By contrast, Gokul has combined its ₹1/L hike with structural subsidies, demonstrating a farmer-first, sustainable strategy that strengthens small dairies while maintaining competitive procurement rates.
