Milk producers in Narukheri village of Haryana’s Karnal district have proposed raising milk prices to ₹80 per litre for cow milk and ₹100 per litre for buffalo milk, citing a sharp increase in feed and fodder costs and inadequate returns to farmers.
The farmers took the decision at a meeting held in Narukheri on Saturday evening. They will meet again on September 10 to assess public feedback before taking a final decision on implementing the proposed rates.
If adopted, the move could increase the price paid by consumers, while potentially improving the margins of dairy farmers.
Farmers Point to Rising Cost of Milk Production
Dairy farmers said the cost of maintaining milch animals has risen significantly in recent years, particularly because of higher cattle-feed and fodder prices.
Anil Narwal, a dairy farmer from Narukheri, said farmers were struggling because the prices offered by middlemen had not kept pace with rising production costs.
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According to him, middlemen currently purchase milk from small farmers at around ₹45–₹70 per litre and subsequently sell it at considerably higher prices in the market.
“The cost of feed has increased considerably. It was earlier around ₹1,800 per quintal, but now it costs ₹2,600–₹2,700 per quintal. Dry fodder is available at ₹1,100 per quintal, while earlier it was ₹600 per quintal. Despite the sharp increase in input costs, farmers are still getting almost the same price for their milk. We have no option but to increase the rates to meet the rising input costs,” Narwal said.
Proposed ₹80 Cow, ₹100 Buffalo Milk
Under the proposal discussed by the farmers:
- Cow milk: ₹80 per litre
- Buffalo milk: ₹100 per litre
The proposed rates are aimed at improving farmer returns and making dairy farming economically viable amid increasing expenditure on feed, fodder, veterinary care and livestock maintenance.
Farmers stressed that the proposed rates are being discussed at the village level and are subject to feedback from consumers before a final decision is taken.
Veterinary Services Another Major Concern
The farmers also highlighted gaps in veterinary services in rural areas.
They demanded adequate availability of veterinary surgeons, medicines and livestock healthcare facilities in villages, arguing that animal health directly affects milk production and farm profitability.
For small dairy farmers, illness or death of a productive animal can result in a substantial financial loss.
Farmers Seek Wider Livestock Insurance Coverage
The farmers also called for greater access to livestock insurance.
They said a good-quality cow can cost approximately ₹1 lakh–₹1.5 lakh, while a buffalo may cost ₹2 lakh–₹2.5 lakh.
According to the farmers, the existing insurance arrangement provides compensation of around ₹60,000 for a cow and ₹90,000 for a buffalo in the event of death. They urged the government to make livestock insurance more accessible and provide better financial protection to dairy households.
Adulteration Concerns Raised
Milk adulteration was another major issue raised during the meeting.
Farmers demanded stronger enforcement against adulterated milk, arguing that unfair competition from adulterated products can damage the reputation of genuine milk producers while creating risks for consumers.
Gautam Narwal, Joginder Narwal, Pargat Singh, Sandeep and Suraj Narwal also called for stricter checks on milk adulteration and better veterinary services.
“We request the government to keep strict vigil on adulteration of milk, which is harmful to human health,” Gautam said.
Joginder argued that milk prices should better reflect the increasing cost of cattle feed, veterinary treatment and other inputs.
“If we calculate the actual cost of producing milk, even ₹200 per litre would not be unreasonable,” Sandeep said.
Similar Discussions in Other Villages
The pricing debate is not limited to Narukheri. A similar meeting was reportedly held in Pundri in Kaithal district, where dairy farmers discussed rising cattle-feed costs and supported the need for higher milk prices.
Farmers in a few other villages have also recently discussed similar price revisions, indicating growing concern over the economics of small-scale dairy farming.
The Bigger Dairy-Economy Question
The proposed ₹80 cow milk and ₹100 buffalo milk rates highlight a broader challenge facing India’s dairy sector: how to balance consumer affordability with the rising cost of milk production.
For farmers, higher feed and fodder prices directly increase the cost of producing every litre of milk. For consumers, however, a sharp increase in retail prices can put additional pressure on household budgets.
The bigger issue is therefore not simply whether milk should cost ₹80 or ₹100 per litre, but whether the dairy value chain can ensure a fairer share of the consumer rupee reaches the milk producer, while keeping milk affordable and maintaining quality and food safety.
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