Hike in milk price necessary, will be implemented: Milma

So, an appropriate decision would be taken based on these factors regarding the quantum of increase as a hike in milk price is necessary for Milma and it will be implemented, Mani told reporters.

State-run dairy cooperative Milma on Wednesday said a hike in milk price was necessary and it will be carried out soon. K S Mani, the chairman of the Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF) which operates under the Milma brand, said that a hike in the price of milk was required for the company to move forward. ''We also need to look after the interests of the dairy farmers as well as the consumers. So, an appropriate decision would be taken based on these factors regarding the quantum of increase as a hike in milk price is necessary for Milma and it will be implemented,'' Mani told reporters. He said that the quantum of increase would be decided after a meeting of the Milma board. He further said that a hike in millk price was already on the cards, but it was put on hold due to the elections and the prevailing model code of conduct, but the discusssions have now resumed as the Assembly polls are over. Mani said that though Milma can increase prices on its own, it had consulted the government on it, as the decisions would impact the huge number of consumers in the state, and a favourable response was received. He also said that the steps taken by Milma so far, including the various benefits given to dairy farmers, resulted in an increase of nearly 13 per cent in milk collection in the financial year 2025-26. ''This is an all time record and indicates the satisfaction of the dairy farmers with the benefits they have received,'' he said. Later, members of the governing body of Milma's Ernakulam Regional Co-operative Milk Producers' Union (ERCMPU) said that according to agenda of the meeting, the price hike was going to be discussed and a decision was going to be taken. ''However, the chairman unilaterally said that since the model code of conduct is in place and due to lack of permission from the Election Commission, after the resutls are declared, another board meeting will be convened to increase the milk price. ''In protest against the chairman's decision, we walked out of the meeting,'' one of the ERCMPU members told reporters here. On April 18, the members of the ERCMPU had staged a protest at the company's headquarters here demanding an immediate increase in milk price in view of steep rise in production cost. The ERCMPU claimed that a decision on the price increase cannot be delayed considering the steep rise in price of cattle feed, essential commodities and labour cost, which have pushed the dairy sector into a severe financial crisis. After it gave a memorandum to Milma last year on increasing milk price, a three-member committee was formed to study the matter and it had submitted a report recommending a hike of up to Rs 6 per litre.