Karnataka farmers protest following falling Milk procurement prices.

Pashu Sandesh, 04 January 2019

Farmers of Mandya district of Karnataka are on stir following the decision of Mandya District Cooperative Milk Producers Societies Union (MANMUL) to slash the procurement price of milk by 2 rupees per kg from 22.8 Rs to 20.8 Rs. Farmers during the protest blocked the Bengaluru Mysore Highway near Muddur.

MANMUL management cited the recurring losses the Milk Cooperative is incurring due to poor sale of Milk powder the main reason behind the falling procurement prices. This claim of the MANMUL management is outrightly rejected by the Farmers as false and attribute the falling procurement prices to the rampant mismanagement and corruption taking place in the  MANMUL.  Farmers are also facing the rising fodder prices and the dip in the procurement prices of Milk will only going to increase the burden of the Farmers.

Agitation of the Farmers led to blockade of the Highway for more than one hour on the busy Bengaluru Mysore route leading to chaos and long lines of waiting Vehicles. Farmers have warned to intensify the stir if their demand for increase in the procurement prices are not met by MANMUL management. Farmers have also urged the Chief Minister Kumaraswamy to look into the problem and provide an early relief to the Milk producing farmers.