The non-payment issue stems from the Usgao-Tambose Dairy, which is reportedly failing to fulfill its financial obligations to the farmers. This cooperative, a crucial link between milk producers and the market, is at the center of the dispute. The inability or unwillingness of the dairy to pay its suppliers promptly underscores significant operational or financial challenges within its structure, leading to direct hardship for its members.

Farmers are now demanding immediate action, urging the minister to intervene and ensure their outstanding dues are cleared without further delay. For many, milk sales represent their primary source of income, essential for covering operational costs like feed, labor, and animal care, as well as meeting household expenses. The prolonged absence of this income stream is causing immense financial strain and uncertainty among the farming community.

The situation in Tambose is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within the dairy economics sector, particularly for producers reliant on timely payments from processors or cooperatives. When such payments are disrupted, it can trigger a cascading effect, leading to potential reductions in milk production, decreased investment in farm improvements, and in severe cases, farmers being forced out of business.