Association urges government to lower fat and SNF standards to improve milk procurement returns
Coimbatore: The Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Paadhugappu Sangam has urged the Tamil Nadu government to revise the quality specifications used for milk procurement and ensure a procurement price of Rs 44 per litre for producers.
The farmers’ association has proposed reducing the required milk quality parameters from 4.3% fat and 8.2% solids-not-fat (SNF) to 4.0% fat and 8.0% SNF. It said the revised specifications would help more producers qualify for the higher procurement rate.
According to the association, the current procurement announcement does not effectively provide farmers with the full Rs 44 per litre rate. Under the existing quality specifications, producers would receive a maximum of approximately Rs 41.35 per litre.
Farmers Seek Changes in Procurement Standards
State secretary of the association’s IT wing, M Gopalakrishnan, said the group had submitted a petition to C Vijayalakshmi, Minister for Milk and Dairy Development, seeking changes to the quality requirements.
The association argued that revising the fat and SNF specifications would make the procurement system more accessible to producers while allowing the government to maintain its announced procurement rate.
The demand comes amid continuing concerns among dairy farmers over production costs and the returns received for milk supplied to cooperative procurement systems.
Current Specifications Affect Producer Returns
Under the present framework, milk producers are required to meet higher quality thresholds of 4.3% fat and 8.2% SNF to receive the maximum applicable procurement benefit.
The farmers’ association wants these requirements lowered to 4.0% fat and 8.0% SNF. It believes the change would help bridge the gap between the announced procurement rate and the amount actually received by producers.
The association has therefore called for the government to implement the revised standards while maintaining the procurement rate at Rs 44 per litre.
Demand Adds Pressure on Tamil Nadu Dairy Policy
The request highlights the importance of aligning milk quality specifications with the procurement prices announced by the state government. For dairy farmers, the quality-linked pricing structure directly influences the final amount received for milk deliveries.
The association’s petition now places the issue before the Milk and Dairy Development Department, which will have to consider whether the proposed quality revisions can be implemented.
The demand also reflects broader efforts by producer groups to secure better and more predictable returns from organised milk procurement.
Any decision by the Tamil Nadu government to revise the standards could have implications for dairy farmers supplying milk through cooperative channels across the state.
