Bhubaneswar: Milk farmers and opposition parties are up in arms against a new milk packet reportedly introduced by the state-owned Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation (OMFED).
They claimed that the cost of milk has now gone up after rise in the prices of potato, onion, garlic and vegetables. While the new milk has hit the market in saffron colour packet its price has increased by Rs two per packet, they claimed, adding that the packet also contains reduced quantity of milk.
While leaders of opposition BJD and Congress have lashed out at the government over the issue, Odisha Milk Farmers Association (OMFA) has described the move as erroneous.
Coming down heavily on the BJP government over the issue, BJD leader Goutam Buddha Das and Congress MLA Sofia Firdous said the new government has changed the names of many welfare schemes. While the colour of LAccMI bus had been changed to saffron earlier, now the colour of milk packets has also been changed, they said, adding that the price of milk has also increased.
While each OMFED packet earlier contained 500 ml of milk, now the quantity has been reduced to 450 ml and the price has gone up by Rs two per packet, they said, milk price has risen to Rs 56 per litre.
Taking a dig at the government, Chairman of Odisha Milk Farmers Association (OMFA), Rabi Behera sought to know whether the increase in price will benefit the milk farmers.
Stating that the input cost of the milk producers had gone up manifold, he said the state government should regulate the cattle feed and provide the same to farmers at subsidised rates. Milk producers have been demanding a procurement price of at least Rs 40 per litre.
Following hike in the price of OMFED milk price, the benefit should also be passed on to producers, he said.
However, OMFED sources said that the milk available in a new shape is entirely a new product with additional ingredients. The earlier products in blue and pink colour packets are still continuing at old price.
They said OMFED had already made it clear in a post on X on July 13 that its new product would be launched soon and the market trial was then underway. It will be improper and misleading to state that the colour of milk packet has been changed and price increased, they added.
It’s new product with new ingredients which will be launched soon. Market trial is going on. Earlier products (with existing colours )are already in market.
OMFED theme colour (Blue and pink colour ) will be not changed. https://t.co/lBEXoi2OZq— OMFED (@OMFEDofficial) July 13, 2024
