Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, February 14: The dairy farmers of Diglipur region have raised the issue of low procurement price of milk.
According to information, dairy farmers of numerous villages under Diglipur Sub-Division said that the current price of their milk at which the ANIIDCO procure from them is Rs. 52/- per litre and which is reportedly low, they rued.
Showing their deep resentment the aggrieved cattle farmers said: “ANIIDCO’s current procurement price of the milk is very low in comparison with the price of other essential commodities. The price of other essential commodities has increased manifold, while there is no hike in the procurement price of milk. Besides, the rearing and maintenance costs of cows have also increased. As such, it is desired that, the price of milk is justifiably hiked from this price of Rs. 52/- to Rs. 70-75 in commensurate with our toil and other prices as well”. They also said that there has been no augmentation of the milk procurement price i.e. Rs. 52/- (per litre) in the last three years. They repeatedly urged the concerned officials of the ANIIDCO to increase the procurement price of milk, but their plea fell into deaf ears so far, they alleged.
Meanwhile, showing his grave concern on the matter, Mr. Mahadev Gain, the Zilla Parishad Member, Radhanagar constituency said that he reportedly took up the matter with the concerned officials of ANIIDCO for its viable redressal, but despite his requests, the ANIIDCO hasn’t reportedly taken any initiative to hike the procurement price of the milk, the ZPM alleged. Reiterating his demand, Mr. Mahadev Gain had also written a letter to the Chief General Manager, ANIIDCO, Port Blair to this effect, the ZPM further said. He urged the CGM, ANIIDCO to hike the procurement price of the milk so that the dairy farmers may get a fair price of the milk they supply, he further added.
