MANGALURU: Even as speculation continues to grow about a potential hike in the price of Nandini milk, marketed by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers Union Limited (DKMUL) has urged the govt to designate Dakshina Kannada as a special district and raise the selling price of Nandini milk by an additional Rs 2–3 per litre.
Amid ongoing pressure from farmers to increase prices, discussions are reportedly underway to hike the selling price of milk by Rs 5 per litre. Addressing reporters on Tuesday, DKMUL president Sucharita Shetty said that if the state govt proposes a Rs 5 price hike, DKMUL has requested the chief minister, KMF, and the ministers for animal husbandry and co-operation to approve an additional increase of Rs 2–3 per litre.
This additional amount would go directly to the farmers as an incentive. He said, “The cost of milk production in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi is significantly higher than in other districts, due to the climate condition and other factors, making the hike essential for sustaining dairy farming in the region.”
Shetty said that DKMUL consistently maintained high-quality milk standards, surpassing even neighbouring Kerala. He warned that without additional support, farmers in border villages might opt to sell milk to Kerala, where the procurement price is Rs 52 per litre.
Meanwhile, recalling a similar move in 2007, Shetty noted that the govt then declared Dakshina Kannada a special district, allowing an additional Re 1 on the selling price of DKMUL milk. This initiative successfully boosted milk production in the district. Currently, DKMUL meets daily demand by procuring 1.5 to 2 lakh litres of milk from other districts, he added.
Sources said that the milk price hike is expected during Makara Sankranti.
