The Bihar State Milk Cooperative Federation Limited, which sells milk and dairy products under the Sudha brand, attributed the increase to higher producer prices.

The price of Sudha Shakti milk has been raised by Rs. 1. Earlier, Sudha Shakti milk was priced at Rs. 54 per litre but now it is priced at Rs. 55 per litre. The weight and price of Lassi have been lowered. Plain Lassi packs will now be 140 mL rather than 150 ml. The price has been reduced by two rupees. Sudha Plain Lassi will be sold for Rs 10 rather than Rs 12. Misty curd weighing 80 grams will now be offered for Rs. 10 rather than Rs. 12. The pricing change is effective February 1, 2024.

The directive to revise milk pricing was given by Vaishal Patliputra Milk Producers Cooperative Union Limited, the Managing Director of Patna Dairy Project. Prior to this, the price of Sudha Shakti milk was hiked by Rs. 3. Sudha Shakti used to cost between Rs. 51 and Rs. 54 a litre.

According to reports, the margins for distributors and retailers have increased. Previously, selling one kg of ghee saved the retailer Rs. 30, but today the savings are Rs. 45. The price of the Sudha Ghee Poly Pack Sachet is Rs. 630 per litre. The price of 500 ml ghee is fixed at Rs. 315.

Last year, according to reports, milk prices rose from Rs. 1.75 to Rs. 1.95 per litre due to an increase in merchants’ margins. Sudha full cream milk now costs Rs. 62 instead of Rs. 59, Shakti’a is now Rs. 54 instead of Rs. 51, cow milk is now ₹52, and tonned milk is now Rs. 49, which is Rs. 2– Rs. 3 more than the existing prices for all milk types. Meanwhile, consumers lamented the raise.

Source : ET Now Feb 1st 2024