Bhubaneswar, Sep 8: In a major relief to dairy farmers amid rising input and production costs, the Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (OMFED) has announced a Rs 2 per litre hike in the milk procurement price across the State, effective from September 11.

Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallick announced the decision at a press conference, stating that the hike was approved under the direction of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

According to the Minister, dairy farmers associated with primary cooperative societies had raised concerns over the rising cost of cattle feed and increased transportation expenses. They had earlier met the Chief Minister and sought an increase in the procurement price. The Chief Minister had assured them that their demand would be examined.

The Minister said the decision would benefit more than 3 lakh dairy farmers across Odisha. OMFED currently procures around 7 lakh litres of milk every day from farmers.

Mallick said the increased procurement price would help farmers cope with higher feed costs and strengthen their incomes. He added that OMFED is expanding its market reach beyond Odisha, while its cattle feed is already available in Chhattisgarh.

The Minister reaffirmed OMFED’s commitment to quality, transparency and ensuring that the benefits of its growth reach farmers at the grassroots level.

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