Haryana Dairy Farmers Demand ₹2–3 per Kg More from Vita
Dairy producers across Haryana have increased pressure on Vita, the state cooperative dairy brand, and regional authorities over procurement rates. Delegations organised by the Dairy Farmers Association submitted memoranda at several Vita processing plants, calling for an immediate increase of ₹2–3 per kg in the price paid for raw milk.
The association said spending on concentrated cattle feed, including khal and binola, had risen alongside the cost of dry fodder, known locally as toori. It also cited higher road transport charges linked to fuel prices. According to the farmers, existing base procurement rates do not cover the cost of producing milk and maintaining animals, leaving both smallholders and commercial operators facing cash-flow pressure.
The request to Vita coincides with village-level efforts to raise direct selling prices. Farmers in Rajthal village in Narnaund, Hisar district, adopted resolutions setting farmgate prices at ₹100 per kg for buffalo milk and ₹80 per kg for cow milk. They also proposed increasing the price of traditional desi ghee by ₹500 to ₹1,500–₹2,000 per kg.
Similar agreements have been reported in villages in Kaithal, Jind and Kurukshetra districts. Farmers in Dhanauri in Kaithal and Sirsa Kheri in Jind agreed to the ₹100-per-kg buffalo-milk rate. Some village committees set penalties for sales below the agreed level, including a fine of ₹5,100.
Before these collective pricing campaigns, buffalo milk in the region generally sold for ₹70–₹80 per kg, while cow milk changed hands at ₹50–₹60 per kg. The village resolutions therefore set higher direct-sale rates than the prices cited for typical regional trade.
Farmers have scheduled a mahapanchayat in Pehowa, Kurukshetra district, for September 10 to coordinate their demands and decide on further collective action. Industry observers said the campaign was aimed at supporting producer viability before the festive period. They also said a significant rise in raw-milk prices could affect retail prices for liquid milk, curd, paneer and traditional dairy sweets.
