Indapur, 27th November 2023: Farmers in Indapur, Pune district of Maharashtra, took to the streets yesterday, staging a protest on the Pune-Solapur national highway to demand fair pricing for milk and support for the agricultural sector. The demonstration, led by young farmers Omkar Sarde and Sagar Petkar from Kandalgaon, aimed to draw attention to the challenges faced by milk producers.

The farmers poured milk on the highway and blocked the road, symbolizing their distress over the declining prices of milk. Speaking to the media, Sarde and Petkar highlighted the continuous fall in milk prices, which has now dropped from Rs 35 to Rs 25 per litre, causing significant financial losses to milk producers. The protest aims to urge the government to take action against both government and private milk projects that fail to pay the guaranteed rate fixed for milk.

The farmers presented a list of demands, including fixing the milk rate at Rs 40 per litre, establishing fodder depots for animals, ensuring food supply from the government, starting a veterinary clinic in every village, submitting a report on adulteration prevention activities for the last five years, initiating a free insurance cover scheme for animals, and establishing a Milk Rate Value Commission.

The protesters emphasized that the agricultural sector is already grappling with the uncertainties of weather, with little rainfall this year, adding to the challenges faced by farmers. If their demands are not met, the farmers threaten to escalate their agitation in the future.

Police Inspector Dilip Pawar and Mandal officer Sopan Hagare accepted the statement of the agitators during the protest.

Source: Punekarnews Nov 29th 2023