Jalandhar: An agitation will be launched against the Punjab state government as decided by the dairy farmers of Punjab from May 21 for what they called as non-redressal of their demands. Starting from Punjab villages the protest will spread outwards said the farmers.
Dairy farmers had high hopes and expectations from the present government, said president of the Progressive Dairy Farmers Association (PDFA), Daljit Singh Sadarpura in Chandigarh, reported The Indian Express.
He said that he has been holding meeting with the government. But the government has not paid any heed to their main demand is to increase milk prices by providing Rs. 7 per kg financial assistance to save the dairy business.
A major role was played by farmers in promoting the dairy business in Punjab and making it rich in dairy, said Sadarpura. But, because the milk prices had not been increased at par with the input costs involved over the last four years, the business has been reeling under heavy financial burden.
Many farmers have become bank defaulters because there was a drop in milk prices during the pandemic, added Sadarpura.
The present state government had not paid much attention to the dairy industry, it is focusing on crop diversification and talks about encouraging allied and subsidiary occupations. Dairy farming is one the best alternative to farming and was allied to farming too, said the PDFA president.
He said that similar to other states, the current government should consider providing financial assistance to dairy farmers.
Sadarpura said that in West Bengal dairy farmers are getting Rs. 7 per kilo, Haryana and Rajasthan dairy farmers are getting Rs. 5 per kilo and Rs. 4 per kilo in Uttarakhand and Telangana as financial assistance to cooperative dairies. He added that a similar assistance to MILKFED should be paid by Punjab government so that farmers cooperatives associated with it will be benefitted and come out of financial crisis.
For the survival of dairy farmers MILKFED shall increase the rate by a minimum of Rs. 7 per kg, demanded Sadarpura.
