No plan to give subsidy to Maha milk farmers: Minister

There is no proposal to provide subsidy to milk farmers in Maharashtra, the Legislative Council was informed today as the Opposition demanded relief for them in the wake of its falling prices.
Legislative Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar directed the state government to hold a meeting with dairy corporations to hear their grievances and see if relief can be provided to milk farmers.
Speaking during the Question Hour, Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde of NCP highlighted the problems being faced by dairy farmers and warned that falling milk prices may emerge as the new cause of suicide by agriculturists.
"Milk rates have come down to Rs 16 from Rs 24 per litre. While Sharad Pawarji was the Union Agriculture Minister, he had ensured farmers producing milk get a subsidy of Rs 2 a litre. But there is no such provision now. Will the government start giving subsidy for these distressed farmers again?" Munde asked.

Dairy Development Minister Eknath Khadse, however, said that the government was not considering any such proposal at the moment.
"The government is not thinking of giving any subsidy to milk farmers. But the state has made provision to buy the excess milk from farmers at a rate of Rs 20 per litre. It is only because the government is buying milk at Rs 20 per litre that the milk prices are stable. If we hadn't done that, private companies would have brought the rates further down to Rs 14-16. But the government has avoided that," he said.
Nimbalkar pointed out that all elected representatives are concerned about the drop in milk prices.

"We are all worried about milk rates. But the question is: What can be given to these farmers? I suggest you (government) call a meeting with dairy corporations and the elected representatives and see what can be done to help the distressed farmers," the Council Chairman said.