Chennai: After talks with the Tamil Nadu government on procurement rates failed, several milk producers went on strike on Friday, refusing to supply to state-owned cooperative Aavin.
Members of three different unions that supply milk to Aavin – which procure, process and sell milk and milk products – are demanding a hike in procurement prices, citing competitive prices by private players.
Two of the three unions, both named Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Welfare Association (TNMPWA), met Dairy Development Minister SM Nasar at the state secretariat on Thursday. However, they did not reach an amicable solution.
After talks failed, one of the unions led by Vajhapadi Rajendran announced He Its members will not send milk to Aavin until their demand is met. Milk producers in Erode staged a symbolic protest by pouring fresh milk on the road.
Meanwhile, Nassar, who addressed the media on Thursday after a meeting with producers associations, said, Gave Assurance That the protest will not affect the supply of milk by Aavin.
ThePrint reached out to Nassar and Aavin officials through phone calls and messages, but did not receive a response till the time of publication. The report will be updated upon receipt of a response.
plight of milk producers
A milk producer since 1977, N Ganesan (63) of Trichy, who was also part of the team that met the officials, told ThePrint that milk producers are “struggling” in the state.
“The first shock we got was when MK Stalin signed his first order after becoming the CM,” he said. On 7 May 2021, Stalin signed an order to reduce the price of milk supplied by Aavin by Rs 3.
Speaking to ThePrint, Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Association (TNMPA) state president K. Mohd Ali, whose association protested in January, said: “With the government reducing the price of milk by Rs 3, Aavin is facing a loss of Rs 300 crore, and in turn has to pay the required purchase price to producers. are not capable of.
Milk producers are demanding a minimum increase of Rs 10 per liter in the procurement price from October 2022. The procurement price was increased by the government in November 2022 following the agitation by the growers. had cow’s milk raised Buffalo milk increased from Rs 41 to Rs 44 per litre.
Aavin in November, 2022 statement Said that the price increase in procurement after three years will benefit more than 4.2 lakh farmers belonging to 9,345 primary cooperative societies.
Although the milk producers remained silent for a while, in December the TNMPA announced a protest outside Aavin in Chennai.
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Private players are paying more
MG Rajendran, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Welfare Association, the third association that supplies Aavin, told ThePrint: “The cost of production for a liter of milk is Rs 51.44, which is very little what we are paid now.”
When the state government is paying less, the private companies are giving a tough competition. “Between private players vs Aavin, there is a difference of Rs 8 to Rs 10 per litre. Many people are now shifting to private companies.”
Rajendran said that with lumpy skin disease affecting milk production across the country, more private players are coming to Tamil Nadu to buy milk.
The growers’ association claimed that the state government’s procurement has also seen a decline. from 37 lakh litres, it is dropped According to a report in, up to 27 lakh liters The New Indian Express, SA Ponnusamy, founder-president of the Tamil Nadu Milk Dealers Employees Welfare Association, said, “Supply is delayed due to shortage of milk in many parts.”
Payment deadlines are also an issue, he pointed out. “Most of the time producers are paid only after 60 days of supply, while private companies pay on a weekly basis.”
MG Rajendran said that “the three-tier cooperative system in the state is in danger if the procurement price is not increased”.
Mohammad Ali said that at present only one association has refused to supply milk to Aavin. Though all unions have the same demand, just one union calling this protest could be counter-productive, he added, adding, “An all-unions meeting will be called soon to decide on the next step.”
Meanwhile, Vajhapadi Rajendran on Thursday clarified that the protest would be suspended, “if the Tamil Nadu government calls for talks again”.
(Edited by Geetalakshmi Ramanathan)
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