Omfed sources said milk procurement has shown an increase in trend and average milk procurement is around 5.45 lakh kg per day. But disposal of milk has reduced significantly from around 3.75 lakh litre per day (LPD) to two lakh.
This decision has evoked sharp reaction from milk farmers’ unions. They argued that Omfed should go the extra mile and procure more milk to help poor rural milkmen/dairy farmers instead of cutting down on purchase forcing farmers to resort to distress sale.
Rabi Behera, president of Odisha Milk Farmers Association (OMFA), said the restriction has left many dairy farmers in the lurch. To rescue the farmers, Behera said the Odisha government should provide five kg of fodder and animal feed for each animal population and minimum monthly assistance of Rs 5,000 for two months to all milk farmers. The agriculture minister and chief minister should intervene to restore the livelihood of lakhs of milk farmers, he added.
