Verka procures milk at Rs 27/litre, sells it at Rs 48/litre

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 19

While milk cooperative Verka sells its milk with 4 per cent fat content (green packets) for Rs48 per litre, it buys the same for Rs27 from farmers. The sale price of Verka is Rs19 above the procurement price.

Farmers are of the view that milk producers are not getting proper price, but the middlemen, including Verka, are getting the biggest share of the profit.

“A farmer bears the cost of the animals, rent of the land on which he grows fodder and spends on feed. Besides, he bears the medical expenses of animals. But, when it comes to the price, he gets Rs27 per litre and Verka makes Rs19 by just pasteurising and packaging the same product,” said Jeevan Singh, a farmer from Fathegarh Churian.

Dairy farming, once a popular subsidiary occupation for the farming community, is now losing its sheen as over the years, farmers have sold their animals. Now, they prefer to buy milk.

“Farmers have realised that they can get milk from others at a much lower price,” said dairy farmer Lakhbir Singh Nizampura, who is also the president of Vegetable Growers Organisation.

While dairy farmers are opting for other modes of business, the situation is conducive for adulterers and manufacturers of synthetic milk. The district Health Department has sealed illegal units manufacturing synthetic khoa, ghee and milk on a number of occasions. Farmers said the price of milk provided by the cooperative should be increased as it would also force the private buyers to increase the same.

An official of Verka, who did not want to be named, said, “The cooperative has increased the price of milk at least 12 times in this year. Last time, the price was revised on August 31. The cooperative has to bear expenses of transportation, processing, cold chains and packaging.”