Ponda: With a hike in procurement rates announced by govt, raw milk has become costly in Goa, though consumers will not have to bear the burden of the price rise, at least for now. The rates have come into force from this month.At a recent meeting with dairy farmers, chief minister Pramod Sawant had agreed to pay a hike of Rs 6 on cow milk and Rs 10 on buffalo milk with the continuance of 40% support price.Dairy farmers will now get Rs 56 per litre on cow milk and Rs 78.4 per litre for buffalo milk. Dairy farmers from Maharashtra will get Rs 36 per litre for cow’s milk and Rs 53.5 per litre for buffalo milk.Sanjeev Kunkalienkar, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, said the price hike has been effected in accordance with the assurance by the chief minister. “Govt will raise the price along with the support price. Goa Dairy will not have to bear the added expense,” he said.Dairy farmers in Goa will receive Rs 56 per litre for cow’s milk with 4% fat and 8.5% SNF (solids-not-fat), comprising a base price of Rs 40 plus a 40% support price of Rs 16. For buffalo’s milk with 6% fat and 9% SNF, they will receive Rs 78.4 per litre, consisting of a base price of Rs 56 plus a 40% support price, which is Rs 22.4.After neighbouring states raised procurement rates earlier this year, farmers in Goa too had demanded a raise. Last month, dairy farmers had staged a protest while 10 days ago they submitted a representation to the Goa Dairy.The farmers were demanding a hike of Rs 10 on cow milk with 3.5% fat and 8.5% SNF and Rs 15 on buffalo milk with 6% fat and 9% SNF. The farmers presently get Rs 32 per litre for the cow milk with 3.5% fat and 8.5% SNF and Rs 39.3 for a litre of buffalo milk with 6% fat and 9% SNF, and a support price at 40%.
