Over 1.10 lakh dairy farmers associated with Milk Producing Companies write to Hon’ble CM of Rajasthan

Request extending‘Mukhymantri Dugdh Sambal Yojna’ incentive to all dairy farmers

Udaipur : Expressing grave displeasure with the recently announced incentive under the MukhyamantriDugdh Sambal Yojna (MMDSY), over 1.10 lakh milk producers associated with milk producing companies from 22 districts of the state of Rajasthan have written to the Hon’ble Chief Minister and State Government of Rajasthan to extend the benefits of the scheme to all milk producers of the state.

The aggrieved farmers have also requested time from the Hon’ble Chief Minister so that they can meet and apprise him of the situation on ground. 

Recently, the Rajasthan Government introduced the first ever separate budget for agriculture and animal husbandry. Under its MMDSY scheme, the Government increased the subsidy from Rs 2 to Rs 5 per litre to those who supply milk to co-operatives associated with state dairy federation.

The enhanced subsidy is intended to benefit around 5 lakh dairy farmers with an increased outlay of Rs 550 crore, whilearound 95% of the total dairy farmers of the state are being left out of the scheme’s benefits. Hence, they demand that the benefits must be extended to all dairy farmers for creating a level playing field and to boost the agriculture and animal husbandry sector.

“The majority of dairy farmers are distressed by the subsidy being provided to only select dairy farming community affiliated to the state’s dairy federation. While we welcome and appreciate the Government’s move to increase the benefit to the tune of Rs 5 per litre, the scheme should treat all dairy farmers within the state at par.”,said Sanju, a dairy farmerfrom Sihot Choti Tehsil, Dhod Sikar, Rajasthan.

“Rajasthan has over 1 crore people engaged in dairy farming and the Rs 5 per litre subsidy is benefiting only around 5 lakh farmers who are associated with the state cooperative, disadvantaging around 95% of dairy farmers.”,said Neha Chipa, a Dairy Farmer from Jhadol Tehsil, Nasirabad, Ajmer, Rajasthan.

Another dairy farmer expressed,“I am a dairy farmer and I am associated with Paayas Milk Producer Company, a farmer owned institution in Rajasthan, working on the principles similar to the co-operative structure. Our institution has always worked in compliance of the policies of the Rajasthan Government. Together, we arearound 1 lakh milk producers from 14 districts of the state. Our network comprising of over 3400 villages produce over 7.50 lakh kg milk per day. We appeal to your fair consciousness to extend the benefit of Rs 5 per litresubsidy under the Mukhyamantri Dugdh Sambal Yojna to all of us.”

Rajasthan is the 2^ndlargest milk producing state in the country with varied structures related to dairy farming. Apart from the state cooperative, milk producers in the state are also affiliated with similar structures known as Milk Producing Companies (MPCs). Paayas, Ujalaa, Sakhi and Asha are 4 major MPCs wherein farmers from over 22 districts pour milk. These farmers have written to the Hon’ble Chief Minister and State Government seeking a fair ground for all left out milk producers.