Thiruvananthapuram, 29 April (H.S.):The Kerala government has approved an increase of ₹4 per litre in the price of milk, accepting a proposal by the Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (Milma). The revised price is expected to be officially announced at a federation meeting scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram later on Wednesday.

With the hike, the retail price of milk will rise from ₹56 to ₹60 per litre. The decision comes after deliberations between the state government and Milma, which had initially sought a higher increase of ₹6 per litre, citing rising production and procurement costs. However, the government advised a more moderate hike of ₹4, which the federation has now agreed to implement.

The price revision has been cleared with special permission from the Election Commission of India, as the state is currently under the Model Code of Conduct due to the ongoing election process. Such approvals are mandatory for policy decisions that could have a public impact during the election period.

This marks the first revision in milk prices in the state since December 2022. Milma’s regional unions had been pressing for a price hike since last year, pointing to a steady increase in input costs, including cattle feed, transportation, and labour.

Currently, dairy farmers in Kerala receive between ₹45 and ₹52 per litre, depending on the quality of milk supplied. The federation is expected to ensure that a portion of the price increase benefits farmers, who have been demanding better procurement rates to sustain production amid rising costs.

Officials said the revised pricing aims to strike a balance between supporting farmers and minimizing the burden on consumers. Further details, including category-wise pricing, are likely to be announced following the federation’s meeting.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman