Protests have been held across the state by the Milk Producers Association, requesting that the price of milk be raised to Rs. 42 per litre, up from the existing price of Rs. 35.
As Aavin’s milk output fell to 13,000 litres, compared to 38,000 litres in Thoothukudi, the delivery of Aavin green magic (standardised milk) came to a standstill on Saturday, April 8th.
Thoothukudi’s Dairy Development Department purchases around 38,000 litres of milk per day from 3,960 milk-procuring members of 165 primary milk producers’ Cooperative Societies. In Thoothukudi, Aavin offered just three types of milk sachets for the consumers to choose from: Aavin Green Magic (standardised milk), Aavin Nice (toned milk – light blue), and Aavin Premium (full cream milk-orange). However, due to a 30% decline in milk procurement, Aavin ceased providing its premium sachets in the area a month ago.
According to a milk agent, he did not receive a single sachet of standardised milk on Saturday, and most agents, like him, received only toned milk in light blue sachets.
According to sources, the Thoothukudi Union of Aavin ceased supplying Aavin green (standardised milk) on Saturday and has reduced manufacturing of Aavin Nice sachets. The union steadily lowered its supply from 38,000 litres per day until a few months ago, reaching a new low of 13,000 litres on Saturday, according to sources. Officials, however, refused to comment on the precipitous drop in milk supply.
SA Ponnusamy, the founding president of the Tamil Nadu milk agents and employee welfare group, harshly attacked the Aavin management, claiming that its inadequate governance implicitly supports independent milk marketers. According to him, the Aavin administration is weak not only in the south but across the state. According to him, the current events, such as the progressive drop in milk output, indicate that Aavin’s management is in a critical crisis and requires a redesign.
Profiting from Aavin’s poor management, some private milk dealers have raised their prices by at least Rs. 2 to Rs. 5 per litre, and others have changed the 1-litre packages to 950 ml, he added. “While most private companies sell full-cream milk at Rs. 74 per litre, Aavin sells it at Rs. 60; standardised milk is sold at Rs. 66 per litre by private companies, while Aavin sells it at Rs. 44; and toned milk is sold at Rs. 54 per litre by private companies, while Aavin sells it at Rs. 40,” Ponnusamy said, adding that this is the second hike this year and the sixth in 13 months.
Protests have been held across the state by the Milk Producers Association, requesting that the price of milk be raised to Rs. 42 per litre, up from the existing price of Rs. 35. Despite the fact that the government raised the procurement price by Rs. 3 per litre in November, milk producers have been selling their milk to private firms because the government has yet to call for negotiations.