Karnataka’s dairy cooperatives have urged the state government to raise the purchase and retail prices of Nandini milk by ₹10 per litre, a demand that could increase household expenses if accepted. The proposal was raised at the Karnataka Milk Federation’s general body meeting on Friday, with representatives from most milk unions supporting the increase.
The representatives are expected to submit another memorandum to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday. Officials have also prepared a report recommending a revision of milk prices, and the report is expected to be submitted to the chief minister during the meeting, according to Prajavani.
A meeting with Shivakumar has reportedly been scheduled for 10 am. The government had earlier asked officials to provide comprehensive information on the increase in cattle-feed prices over the past decade, milk production costs, procurement and retail prices, and rates prevailing in neighbouring states.
The demand follows a memorandum submitted to the chief minister on Tuesday by a delegation representing Karnataka’s cooperative milk producers’ unions. The delegation had sought an increase of between ₹8 and ₹10 per litre, citing the financial pressures faced by milk producers and dairy unions.
However, the ₹10 increase sought by the unions may not be accepted in full. Sources cited in the report said the possibility of a ₹10 hike was low and that the increase, if approved, could be limited to ₹5 per litre. The final decision rests with the state government.
Nandini milk’s retail price was last increased by ₹4 per litre in April last year. The current price is ₹46 per litre. Any revision would therefore affect both the price paid to producers and the retail price paid by consumers, although the report does not establish the final amount or the timing of a possible increase.
The pricing issue reflects the two linked pressures within Karnataka’s cooperative dairy system. Milk unions are seeking higher returns for producers as input and production costs rise, while the government must also consider the impact of a retail increase on consumers. The material submitted to the chief minister is expected to provide the basis for that assessment.
The Karnataka Milk Federation and the state’s milk unions operate within a system in which procurement prices paid to producers and retail prices charged for Nandini products are closely connected. A change in one part of the chain can affect the finances of producers, unions and consumers. The government’s review is therefore expected to consider the cost structure across the system rather than only the retail price.
For households in Bengaluru and elsewhere in Karnataka, the immediate issue is whether the government accepts the full demand, approves a smaller increase or delays a decision. The current price remains ₹46 per litre until the government announces a revision.
The next stated step is the meeting with the chief minister on Saturday, when the unions are expected to submit their memorandum and officials are expected to present the pricing report. A final decision on the proposed increase has not yet been announced.
