Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sabha has urged the State government to fix the price of milk at ₹60 per litre and do away with the support price of ₹5 per litre being given to milk producers.

In a press conference in Shivamogga on Thursday, July 13, H.R. Basavarajappa, State president of the Sangha, said the milk producers had been spending about ₹50 per litre of milk, considering the prevailing rate of cattle feed and other costs. However, the milk unions had been procuring milk producers by paying around ₹28 per litre.

“What is the point in giving a support price of ₹5 per litre when you are purchasing the commodity at half of its production cost? Fix ₹60 per litre of milk and do away with the support price. Rather, give it to the consumers,” he said. As it had been done in the case of rice or other commodities, he said, let the government provide milk for the consumers at a subsidised price.

Other demands of the sangha include, withdrawal of amendment to the Land Reforms Act that allowed non-farmers to purchase agricultural land. The previous BJP government passed the amendment, and the Congress had promised that it would withdraw it. However, the party, after coming to power, tabled the Bill to withdraw the amendment to the APMC Act, not the Land Reforms Act, he said.

Mr. Basavarajappa, referring to the dip in the price of ball copra, said the government should purchase copra from farmers at ₹15,000 per quintal. He also suggested procuring coconut from the growers and distributing the same along with rice and other food grains through the fair price shops.

Martyrs’ Day

The State president said the sangha would hold the martyrs’ day at Naragunda in Gadag district on July 21. The programme would be held to remember the sacrifice of farmers who were killed in police firings 43 years ago. He appealed to farmers to take part in the programme in large numbers.

Source : The Hindu July 13 2023