Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 27: The Karnataka government has approved a Rs 4 per litre hike in Nandini milk prices, a move expected to impact consumers just days before the Ugadi festival on March 30. The decision, taken during a cabinet meeting on Thursday, follows demands from the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) and farmers’ organisations.

With this hike, the price of a one-litre blue packet of Nandini milk will now cost Rs 48, up from Rs 44. The increase is likely to push up the cost of tea, coffee, and dairy-based products in hotels and sweet shops across the state.

The government had been under pressure to revise milk prices, with farmer groups initially demanding an increase of Rs 5 per litre. Although Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier resisted the hike, the cabinet has now given the green light.

The decision comes amid recent criticism of the government for raising Metro and RTC bus fares, as well as revising power tariffs.

Earlier this month, Minister for Animal Husbandry K. Venkatesh had confirmed that a price revision was imminent. He cited financial constraints, stating that the government owed Rs 656.07 crore in subsidies to milk producers, affecting over 9.04 lakh beneficiaries. While farmers sought a Rs 10 per litre hike, the final increase was capped at Rs 4 after discussions with the Chief Minister.

Farmers' organisations, including the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Green Brigade, have been protesting since February, demanding an increase in procurement prices to at least Rs 50 per litre, along with an interim support price of Rs 10 per litre.

The last revision in Nandini milk prices was in June 2024, when the government increased the price by Rs 2 per litre while adding an extra 50 ml per packet. That move had also faced criticism.