CHENNAI: The TVK govt on Monday announced a further Rs 3 per litre hike in the procurement price of milk, taking the rate paid to milk producers from Rs 41 to Rs 44. The move is aimed at benefiting more than 3.16 lakh producers supplying milk to primary dairy cooperative societies across Tamil Nadu.Announcing the decision under Rule 110 in the Assembly, chief minister C Joseph Vijay said the govt had decided to increase the procurement price considering the rising cost of cattle feed and other inputs.“Following the earlier increase from Rs 38 to Rs 41 per litre, the government has now decided to further increase the procurement price by Rs 3 to Rs 44 per litre,” Vijay said.The latest hike comes just days after the government announced an increase in the procurement price on Aug 19. The earlier revision included a Rs 1 increase through cooperative societies and an increase in the government incentive from Rs 3 to Rs 5 per litre, taking the overall procurement price from Rs 38 to Rs 41.The latest decision follows representations from various cooperative milk producers’ welfare associations and milk producers, who sought a further revision citing a sharp increase in the cost of green fodder, dry fodder, bran, oil cakes and other farm inputs.The govt said it would fully compensate Aavin for the additional expenditure arising from the latest procurement price increase.The hike will impose an additional burden of Rs 60 crore a month and Rs 720 crore annually on the government.“The government has taken this decision keeping the welfare of milk producers in mind,” the CM said.
