We are being exploited, claim milk producers

Tarn Taran, March 27

Milk producers of this border belt have expressed resentment over quoting very less rate for milk as compared to the rate which was being given to them before the lockdown by private dairy owners.

Milk producers, including Kulwinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Dial Singh, of Dadehar Sahib; Harbhajan Singh of Sarhali; Hardev Singh of Thatha among others, said dairy owners of private sector, who have been giving them Rs47 to Rs50 per kg were giving them just Rs28 to Rs29 per kilogram under the garb of non-consumption of milk in the market during the lockdown.

These dairy owners were supplying milk in urban areas and charging much higher rates from consumers.

Before the arrival of private companies in the milk sector, only Verka and Nestle were there in the market.

Producers said private milk dairies in the area settled in Gaggo Bua, Harike and in Amritsar, running business on a very large scale, have nominated their representatives in each village of the border belt. Their representatives started quoting much higher rates as compared to the cooperative sector companies to compete with Verka and Nestle.

Milk producers said dairy owners of the private sector under the garb of lockdown have denied purchasing milk, as they claimed that there was no consumption. They pay just Rs28 to Rs29 per kilogram on the purchased milk, said producers. They said they had to purchase feed for their cattle at higher rates after the lockdown, but were taking less rate on produced milk, which in a way was their exploitation.

Parnam Singh, dairy inspector of the office of the local Deputy Director Dairy, said: “They can lodge their complaint to the district administration and only then can the department initiate action against the erring persons paying less to milk producers.”— OC