Mohali, May 21, 2022: Thousands of dairy farmers from all districts of Punjab today gathered at the Verka Milk Plant here and held a massive protest in support of their demands. The protesting farmers raised slogans against the Punjab government and said they would continue their protest
Sadarpura while addressing the protesting dairy farmers said, “After agriculture, dairy farming is the second largest source of livelihood in Punjab. The state is today ranks number 1 in commercial dairy farming in the country. The number of dairy farmers in Punjab is more than the entire country.
“Today every dairy farmer is living under a financial crisis, where he is a large or small milk producer. Last two years we have not raised any issue on increasing the prices of milk because of the pandemic as we know everyone is passing through a crisis, including the dairy farmers.”
He said milk rates have not been increased for more than two years now. But the expenditure on milk production is mainly on wheat and fodder, adding 75 percent expenditure is on the feed. Singh said the rates of cow feed have doubled in the last two years, which had never been seen before in the last 25 years of dairy business.
“The major component of feed is soybean which was Rs 3200 per quintal an year back went to 10,000 and now at 6500 and we had to bear that loss also. In addition, fans have to be switched on all the cows and buffalos and in view of the erratic power supply, the cost of running a genset has also gone up with increasing diesel prices. Cost of running other machinery including tractors has also gone up because of the hike in diesel prices.”
The PDFA president said dairy farmers were compelled to stop giving their loan installments to banks, which had been taken in view of the mounting losses and are on the verge of closure, which will only lead to unemployment. He added there was no check on hoarding, which hikes the prices of dairy feed, thus causing losses to dairy farmers. He also added that milk production has also gone down, which is an issue of concern and will only encourage adulteration.
“We held several meetings with the new government, because we are going through a crisis and appealed to the government to compensate dairy farmers on the pattern of other states. But the government failed to pay heed to our demands.”
He said the dairy farmers struggle had to be started since despite holding regular meetings with the government on several issues of dairy farmers, the issues have not been resolved, especially regarding increase of milk prices and demanding financial assistance of Rs 7 per litre.
He also said if we see Punjab, the enthusiasm of the farmers towards the dairy business in Punjab has also given impetus to the crop diversification in the state in recent times as the dairy farmers have encouraged the sowing of maize and other green fodder in Punjab.
Mr. Sadarpura said in other states like Haryana Rs 5 per litre, Rajasthan Rs 5 per litre, West Bengal Rs.7 per litre, Uttarakhand Rs.4 per litre and Telangana Government Rs.4 per litre are paying as financial assistance to the cooperative dairies in these states.
He added on the same lines the Punjab government should pay MILKFED so that the farmers cooperatives associated with Punjab MILKFED should be able to get out of the financial crisis and at the same time the farmers could get economic benefits. On this occasion Mr. Sadarpura demanded that MILKFED should increase the rate for dairy farmers by a minimum of Rs.7 per litre for their survival.
On this occasion, PDFA Press Secretary, Resham Singh Bhullar said that PDFA will continue the agitation demanding an increase in the price of milk.
Among prominent present on the occasion were Balvir Singh Nawanshahr, Rajpal Singh Kulaar, Ranjit Singh Langeana, Parminder Singh Ghudani, Sukhdev Singh Baroli, Baljinder Singh Satiala, Avtar Singh, Sukhpal Singh Barpal, Sukhjinder Singh Ghuman, Kuldeep Singh Seron, Sukhraj Singh, Manjit Singh Mohi, Balwinder Singh, Nirmal Singh Bathinda, Kuldeep Singh Mansa, Gurbakhsh Singh Bajke, Darshan Singh Saunda, Sikander Singh Patiala, Kuldeep Singh Patiala, Sukhdeep Singh Fazilka, Amarinder Singh Jalandhar, Jarnail Singh Barnala, Surjit Singh Kohli, Geetinder Singh Bathinda, Balwinder Singh, Satinder Singh Ropar, Balihar singh etc. were present.
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