Consumers will now have to pay more to buy milk as the state-owned OMFED (Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation) has announced a hike in the prices of milk to be effective from April 1, 2023.
The federation has increased the prices of milk by Rs 2 per half a liter on all variants. It attributed the price hike to an increase in the costs of packaging, logistics, cattle feed, and other operational costs.
“In view of the increase in farmers' costs such as the cost of fodder for cows, the cost of medicines and fuel, and the cost of packaging materials, OMFED has been forced to increase its milk price by Rs 2/500 ml (half a liter) with effect from April 1, 2023,” the OMFED stated in a release.
As per the new price, the OMFED toned milk will cost Rs 23 instead of Rs 21 while the price of the Premium Milk has been hiked to Rs 26 from Rs 24. The Gold Milk will cost Rs 26 instead of Rs 24 and Chai Special Milk will cost Rs 25 instead of Rs 23.
“It is important to note that 90 percent of the cost of OMFED milk sales goes towards milk procurement. As a responsible organisation, OMFED has consistently worked towards providing fair prices to milk producers, thereby ensuring the sustainability of milk production and availability of quality milk to consumers at affordable prices,” the OMFED press release read.
“Consumer costs have also increased with an increase in ancillary costs as well as operational costs of packaging, marketing, etc. Despite higher prices for milk purchases, consumer prices were kept intact by OMFED over the past year,” the press release added.
Meanwhile, the price hike has received sharp criticism from consumers and homemakers.
(Reported by Kapilendra Pradhan, OTV)