The protesters argued that OMFED’s current milk procurement system is placing severe pressure on small and medium-sized dairy farmers. According to the demonstrators, higher feed, transport and labor costs have significantly increased production expenses, while the price offered by OMFED has remained too low to sustain profitable milk production.

Farmer representatives also claimed that OMFED has tightened quality standards and is rejecting larger volumes of milk on the grounds of poor quality or adulteration. Producers insist that these measures are being applied unfairly and that entire groups of farmers are being penalized for the actions of a few suppliers. They warned that continued rejection of milk could leave farmers with no viable market for their production.

The protest highlights a wider dispute over the distribution of value within Odisha’s dairy supply chain. Farmers alleged that OMFED purchases milk at low prices but sells processed dairy products to consumers at significantly higher margins. They are demanding an increase in the procurement price and greater transparency in how the cooperative shares profits with producers.