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Tamil Nadu
Costs dilute creamy choices
DWINDLING TRADE: A man who sells milk on the roadside in the city. —
In addition to cooking oil, the prices of which have touched dizzying heights, another commodity which now costs an average consumer dear is milk. With the price having gone up by Rs.2 a litre approximately, milk is going to be an expensive component in one’s diet.
According to dairy industry sources, the unprecedented rise in fuel prices may result in that of milk going up further. “The recent increase in fuel cost has put immense pressure on the dairy industry,” says M. Chellayan, Chairman of Nilgiris Supermarket.
The increasing fuel expenses have reflected on the transportation cost and pasteurisation process, which again involves a lot of fuel usage. Frequent power cuts have increased the dependence on generators. With diesel prices having gone up, running generators is no longer a cheap option, he says. As far as the producer is concerned, maintenance of cattle is becoming difficult. The prices of cattle feed has gone up by Rs.2 and many small dairy farmers are not able to make both ends meet, says S.R. Rajagopal, Vice President, Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Welfare Association.
“A kilo cattle feed usually yields one litre of milk,” he adds. In the last four months, the prices of groundnut and coconut cake, bran powder and cotton seed, usually used as cattle feed, have spiralled, forcing small farmers who used to maintain one to two cows to migrate to other profitable jobs, he adds.
Before the hike, half a litre of toned milk, with three per cent fat, cost Rs.7. Now, it costs Rs.9.50, he says.
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