Aavin milk supply to be disrupted next week due to farmer’s strike

• Currently, Farmers get Rs 35 per litre for cow milk and Rs 44 for Buffalo milk
• Over 4.20 lakh farmers across Tamil Nadu were supplying milk to Aavin
• TN govt hiked procurement prices last year

Aavin milk supply is likely to be hit across Tamil Nadu next week as talks between dairy producers and the state government over the demand of hiking procurement prices failed.

Following the meeting, the milk producers’ associations have decided to go on indefinite strike from March 17.

At present, the state-owned Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited (TNCMPFL) pays Rs 35 per litre for cow milk from farmers and Rs 44 for buffalo milk. Now milk producers are demanding Rs 7 as incentives for every litre of milk supplied to TNCMPFL citing an increase in fodder prices.

General Manager of Aavin Shanti, held talks with the milk producers on Thursday where she said only 3 months ago, the government increased the procurement by Rs 3 per litre and said that the incentive amount cannot be increased now due to financial constraints. However, the firm owners refused to accept the government’s decision.

Subsequently, the milk producers announced that they would be going on strike across Tamil Nadu from March 17. As a result, Aavin supply in the state might be affected.

Speaking to the media, Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Welfare Association Vice President M Govinda Pandian said, “Last year we requested the government to increase the procurement price of milk by Rs 10 per litre but they had increased it by just Rs 3. Soon after the announcement from the government, private companies hiked fodder prices. Because of this, the cattle breeders have been facing losses.”

Meanwhile, the state government sources suggested that they will hold another round of talks before the proposed strike.

According to estimates over 4.20 lakh farmers across Tamil Nadu were supplying milk to 9,345 primary cooperative societies run by the state government.

It is to be noted that following the increase in the procurement price of milk by the state government in November last year, Aavin increased the price of the premium segment of milk (available in orange packets) by 25 per cent.