Dairy farmers get special incentive of Rs 4 per litre

Nizamabad: The state government has decided to give an incentive of Rs 4 per litre to milk producers in Nizamabad district from November 1 onwards. The government’s initiative is likely to boost milk production in the coming days. However, it will not have any impact on the price of milk in the open market, according to TS Dairy Development Federation, Nizamabad unit, general manager R. Ramesh.

Given the incentive, dairy farmers would get Rs 30.50 per litre milk containing 5 per cent fat content, instead of the earlier Rs 26.50.

The drought conditions in the state pushed the dairy farmers into distress following a sharp rise in the prices of fodder. Further, lack of adequate rains resulted in production of less milk. It is learnt that the state government has taken a cue from neighbouring Karnataka which had also given a similar initiative to dairy farmers in their state.

There are around 10,200 milk co-operative producers’ societies, 3,000 self-help group members producing around 31,000 litres per day in Nizamabad district. The TS Dairy Development Federation pays them a price ranging between Rs 26.50 to Rs 53 per litre, based on the fat content.

The government procures milk in a large quantity from Kamareddy division alone as private dairies have a prominent presence in other parts of the district.

Reportedly, the private dairies offer Rs 58 to Rs 60 per litre milk having 10 per cent fat and the farmers are paid every 10 days.

In view of the rise in cost of production, farmers had taken to other sources of earning which hit quantity of milk production.