Verka milk dearer by Rs 2 per litre

Tribune News Service

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CHANDIGARH, March 7

Verka, the flagship brand of state-owned cooperative Milkfed, has decided to hike milk prices by Rs 2 per litre (Re 1 per pouch) with effect from tomorrow.

The prices were last increased – also by Rs 2 per litre — in August last year.

The yellow pouch (half litre) will now cost Rs 19, while the green one will be priced at Rs 23. The red packet (with increased fat content) will cost Rs 26.

Amarjit Singh Sidhu, Chairman, Milkfed, said the hike was necessitated by the rise in the dairy farmers’ input cost.

“There has been a considerable increase in the cost of animal feed, meal supplements and other inputs of dairy farming. Animal healthcare has also got costly. While we have hiked the procurement rates considerably, there is a marginal hike in the milk prices,” said Sidhu.

He said farmers’ interests were of utmost importance to Milkfed, adding that 80 to 85% was paid back to the farmer in the form of milk purchase price, annual bonus etc.

Milkfed clarified that various milk variants would continue to be packed in pouches having the old retail price printed on them till this stock of packing material was exhausted. However, new rates will be stamped on the pouches.