Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Explains Nandini Milk Price Decision

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of Karnataka has provided clarification regarding the recent pricing adjustment of Nandini milk by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF).

The KMF’s decision, set to take effect on June 26, involves a change in the packaging and pricing structure of Nandini milk. This move, while not affecting the price per unit, will increase the volume of milk in each packet by an additional 50 ml.

Under the new plan, the current half-liter (500 ml) and one-liter milk packets will be replaced by 550 ml and 1,050 ml packets, respectively. The revised prices for the new packet sizes will be Rs. 24 and Rs. 44, compared to the previous prices of Rs. 22 and Rs. 42.

According to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statement on X, the primary aim of this change is to prevent the rejection of surplus milk production by farmers at collection centers. He emphasized that, despite the slight increase in price, consumers will get more milk for their money.

Siddaramaiah highlighted that the rise in milk production in Karnataka, from an average of 90 lakh liters per day last year to 99 lakh liters per day currently, was a key factor in the pricing adjustment. The additional 50 ml per packet at a marginally higher cost aims to accommodate this surplus production and benefit both farmers and consumers.

The Chief Minister further pointed out the government’s supportive measures for dairy farmers, including the Rs. 3 price increase implemented previously. These initiatives, coupled with favorable weather conditions providing ample green fodder for cattle, have led to a substantial rise in daily milk production in the state to nearly 1 crore liters.

The decision by KMF, independent of government influence as per Siddaramaiah, is strategically aimed at managing the increased milk output efficiently while ensuring that the excess milk reaches consumers.