Bengaluru, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday defended the milk price hike, saying it was necessary to safeguard farmers’ interests, particularly when the state was reeling under severe drought.
The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday approved a ₹ 8 per litre increase in milk prices across all categories. Milk producers had sought a hike of ₹ 12 per litre, according to Shivakumar. “Karnataka has a total of 28.84 lakh dairy farmers, of whom 67 per cent of KMF members are small and marginal farmers.
He said the decision also reflected the government’s reverence for the cow, regarded as a mother, and its commitment to protecting cattle. Shivakumar said milk prices had not been revised for several years, prompting the government to take the decision. In a subsequent post on X, the CM said the Karnataka government was steadfastly committed to protecting the livelihoods of dairy farmers while ensuring that Nandini products remained affordable for consumers. This decision is a significant step towards providing fair remuneration for their hard work,” the Chief Minister said. “Our government is committed to both protecting the interests of farmers and ensuring the supply of quality milk to consumers at affordable prices,” the CM said.
