Hundreds of dairy farmers in Umerkote town of Odisha’s Nabarangpur district staged a dramatic protest on Saturday after the Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (Omfed) abruptly suspended milk procurement due to storage limitations.
In a display of anger and frustration, farmers reportedly poured nearly 20,000 litres of fresh milk onto the streets, claiming that they had no alternative market for their highly perishable produce after Omfed refused to accept milk deliveries.
Procurement Halt Triggers Protest
According to local sources, farmers arrived at the Omfed chilling centre in Umerkote as usual to sell their daily milk production. However, they were informed that procurement had been temporarily suspended because the affiliated dairy plant at Jeypore had exhausted its storage and processing capacity.
With no immediate buyers available and no arrangements made for alternative procurement, farmers dumped large quantities of milk outside the chilling centre, accusing authorities of failing to protect their livelihoods.
The incident highlighted the challenges faced by dairy producers when milk collection and processing infrastructure fails to keep pace with increasing production.
Milk Collection Increased Sharply
Officials stated that the procurement crisis emerged due to a significant increase in milk arrivals.
Earlier, the region supplied approximately 5,000 to 6,000 litres of milk per day. However, recent procurement volumes reportedly surged to nearly 17,000 litres daily, creating pressure on existing storage facilities and processing operations.
As a result, the Jeypore dairy plant reportedly declined to accept additional milk supplies, leading to the suspension of procurement at the Umerkote chilling centre.
Farmers Demand Immediate Action
The protesting farmers warned that the agitation could spread across the district if milk procurement is not resumed immediately.
They demanded urgent intervention from the state government and accused authorities of neglecting the interests of dairy producers who depend on daily milk sales for their household income.
Farmers argued that unlike many agricultural commodities, milk cannot be stored for long periods at the farm level, making uninterrupted procurement essential for sustaining dairy operations.
Read More: Dairy Sector Crucial for Rural Development, Nutrition and Women’s Empowerment: Amit Shah
Omfed Responds
Milk Procurement Officer Krushna Chandra Sahu acknowledged the problem and confirmed that storage shortages were responsible for the procurement halt.
“There is a lack of storage space at the chilling centre due to which milk cannot be procured. Efforts are underway to resolve this issue as soon as possible,” he stated.
Lessons for the Dairy Sector
The incident underscores the importance of:
- Adequate chilling and storage infrastructure
- Expansion of milk processing capacity
- Efficient milk procurement networks
- Real-time supply chain management
- Contingency planning during production surges
Industry experts note that while increasing milk production is a positive sign for rural incomes, corresponding investments in collection centres, bulk milk coolers, chilling plants, and processing facilities are essential to prevent wastage and farmer distress.
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