Bengaluru, 31 October

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday defended the decision to hike Nandini milk prices by Rs 8 per litre. 

“We must do our part to show respect to Gomata (the cow revered as a mother) and protect cattle. Keeping the drought situation in mind, we have given this decision considerable thought,” Shivakumar told reporters in the City.

He noted that milk producers had sought a hike of Rs 12 per litre, but the Cabinet settled on Rs 8 per litre. 

“Prices are much higher in neighbouring states, and farmers in Karnataka were moving their milk to those states. Milk availability is declining as well. Due to drought, milk production has come down,” Shivakumar added. 

“We have no other option. If we want to protect our cows, we must provide them with good food. To provide them with food, we need fodder. For fodder to be available, farmers must be in a good financial position and have money in their hands. Only when farmers have money can they sustain this; otherwise, production will keep declining,” the CM said.

He has also argued that the price of milk in Karnataka is cheaper than in other states.