Milma hikes milk price by ₹4 per litre; implementation from June 1

Thiruvananthapuram: In a major decision impacting households across Kerala, the Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, popularly known as Milma, has announced a price hike of ₹4 per litre for milk. The revised rates are scheduled to come into effect on June 1.

The decision was finalised during a crucial meeting of the Milma Board of Directors, which evaluated the current challenges faced by the state's dairy sector.

Direct Benefit to farmers

Milma authorities emphasised that the hike is heavily weighted in favour of the agricultural community. Out of the ₹4 increase per litre, ₹3.35 will go directly to the dairy farmers. This move aims to alleviate the financial strain on farmers who have been struggling with the soaring costs of cattle feed, fodder, and general maintenance.

Beyond liquid milk, consumers will also need to budget more for dairy derivatives, as Milma confirmed that the prices of its allied milk products will see a corresponding increase.

The dairy ecosystem in Kerala

Milma operates on a unique three-tier cooperative structure (comprising primary milk cooperative societies, regional milk producers’ unions, and the state federation). This ensures that the bulk of the revenue generated from consumers is funneled back into the rural economy.

Historically, price hikes by Milma are met with careful scrutiny in Kerala, where milk is an essential daily commodity. However, the federation has frequently pointed out that without periodic revisions, local dairy farming risks becoming financially unviable.