Rajkot Dairy again hikes procurement price by Rs 15

Barely a fortnight after it increased milk procurement price by Rs 10 to Rs 535 per kg fat, Rajkot District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited, also known as Rajkot Dairy, has again raised the milk procurement price by Rs 15 to Rs 550 per kg fat.

With this, Rajkot Dairy has become the second highest payer in Gujarat after Surat District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited, also known as Sumul Dairy. The revised rate will be applicable from April 21.

Earlier, Rajkot Dairy had increased the milk procurement price on April 2 by Rs 10 to Rs 535 per kg fat.

"Generally, milk production decreases in summer and fodder prices increase. Farmers face fodder shortage for animals and have to pay high price for fodder. To provide financial support to milk farmers, we have decided to revise the procurement rate again this month," said A C Sinha, managing director, Rajkot Dairy. Rajkot Dairy is a member of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF).

According to data available with Rajkot Dairy, during April, per day milk supply has decreased from 695,000 litres to 460,000 litres and it will reduce even more in the coming days.

Sinha said, "We have increased milk procurement rate in April by Rs 25 and if necessary, we will revise it upwards next month also."

According to dairy official, during summers, milk supply from producers come down by 30 per cent. By May end, milk supply could be below 300,000 litres a day, the official said.