KMF increases milk prices by ₹2 a litre, second hike in less than a year

Karnataka Milk Federation hikes milk prices by ₹2 per litre, facing backlash from opposition.

Close on the heels of the Karnataka government increasing the prices of petrol and diesel, the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has decided to hike the price of milk by ₹2 a litre. The announcement came from KMF Chairman Bhima Naik at a press conference convened in Bengaluru on Tuesday, June 25.

The cost of a litre of Nandini milk in Karnataka will now be ₹44. The price hike will come into effect from Wednesday, June 26.

With the latest hike, the Santrupti milk sachets will be the most expensive from the KMF stable at ₹57 a litre, followed by Samruddhi at ₹53 a litre while the double toned milk will be the cheapest at ₹43 a litre.

This is the second price hike in less than a year. In July 2023, the KMF had hiked the price by ₹3 a litre. Though it had sought ₹5 hike, the State Government had allowed a hike of ₹3 per litre.

While dairy farmers had been unhappy over the previous hike, the decision to hike the retail price of milk came as a surprise. Defending the hike, Mr. Naik said that the KMF was providing 1,050 ml in a milk sachet sold per litre, and that ₹2 was towards that. The KMF has refrained from increasing the price of curd and milk products that it sells in the market.

According to him, despite the price hike, the cost of milk is still cheaper in Karnataka compared to neighbouring states.

Following the announcement of the price hike, the Opposition BJP attacked the ruling Congress in the State. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashoka took to X, accusing the Siddaramaiah government of increasing the milk prices “to celebrate the anniversary of the imposition of emergency”.