Dairy News

Milk, ghee to cost more

Friday, 20/09/13

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130920/punjab.htm#10

Chandigarh : The Punjab State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (Milkfed) has decided to increase the price of full cream and standard milk by Rs 2 and Rs 1 respectively, from September 21.

The price of Verka ghee has been hiked by Rs 15 per kg from today. It will now be sold for Rs 325 per kg.

While the price of full cream milk will be increased from Rs 38 to Rs 40 per litre and that of standard milk from Rs 36 per litre to Rs 37 per litre, there will be no change in the price of double tone and single tone milk.

The decision was taken today following an increase in the procurement price of milk. At present, Milkfed is paying Rs 480 per kg fat as procurement price for milk to the dairy farmers. This price is now being hiked by Rs 10 per kg fat. With Milkfed losing a large number of dairy farmers associated with it to private milk, producers, who are paying a much higher procurement price, it had become imperative for the dairy cooperative to increase the procurement price.

This is the second hike during the past two months. In June, Milkfed had increased the price of all categories of milk and ghee after the cooperative raised the procurement price of milk by Rs 30 per kg fat.

Official sources said they were facing a shortage of milk. The cooperative was procuring 8.75 lakh litres of milk daily as against the supply of 9.50 lakh litres. The gap in demand and supply was presently being met through the reconstitution of milk from skimmed milk powder, they added.