Milk To Get Costlier In Maharashtra, Prices Hiked By Rs 2 Per Litre

The prices of cow and buffalo milk in Maharashtra are set to rise by ₹2 per litre starting August 11, 2023, according to the Milk Producers and Processors Welfare Association. The decision was made in response to significant cost pressures faced by packaging and procurement steps. Factors contributing to the cost increase include a rise in diesel prices by ₹10 per litre, a 30% increase in packaging expenses, and an overall increase in procurement prices for milk.

The association is implementing the price hike to protect dairy farmers' interests while maintaining consumer safety, as per news agency ANI. The government, however, has no plans to fix a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for milk and relies on cooperatives and private dairies to determine rates based on market conditions. The government has also taken steps to stabilize market rates and maintain quality control, such as expanding dairy cooperative societies, improving chilling capacity, and increasing milk processing and value-addition projects.