Karnataka to hike milk prices by up to Rs 8 per litre from November 1

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has decided to increase milk prices by up to Rs 8 per litre from November 1, Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said on Thursday.

“The state government has discussed and decided to increase the price of milk by up to Rs 8 per litre,” Gowda said.

Explaining the decision, the minister said the state was facing drought conditions, while sugarcane farmers were protesting over prices they considered inadequate. He said the government had a responsibility to support farmers, many of whom rely on dairy farming for their livelihood.

“There is drought in the state. Farmers are protesting, demanding a revision of sugarcane prices, saying the current rates are insufficient. Therefore, it is our duty to come to the aid of farmers,” he said.

Gowda said dairy farming helped farmers meet household expenses, including the cost of building houses, educating their children and paying for medical treatment, particularly amid uncertainty in the agricultural sector.

He added that farmers had previously staged protests demanding a revision of milk prices, with the issue also discussed across party lines in both Houses of the Karnataka legislature.

“Earlier, tens of thousands of farmers protested and pressured the government to revise milk prices. Irrespective of party lines, there was discussion in the Vidhana Sabha and Vidhana Parishad that milk prices should be increased. Except for Karnataka, milk prices have increased in other states. In Karnataka, it is only Rs 46. After the drought was declared, milk production has decreased by 10 lakh litres,” he said.

On the proposed bus fare hike, Gowda said transport corporations had sought a revision following an increase in petrol and diesel prices in January.

“Since petrol and diesel prices increased last January, transport corporations have said that bus fares should be increased, so there was a discussion about a fare hike. For now, fares have not been increased,” he said.

PTI