Ranchi: People already grappling with inflation have been dealt another blow. Amul milk has become more expensive, effective today. The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) has raised the prices of various categories of milk by ₹2 to ₹6 per litre.
According to the company, the price of ‘Amul Taaza’ (toned milk) has been increased by ₹2 per litre, while the prices of ‘Amul Shakti’ and ‘Amul Gold’ have gone up by ₹4 per litre. The price of buffalo full-cream milk has seen an increase of ₹6 per litre. Following this hike, the price of toned milk has risen from ₹57 to ₹59 per litre, ‘Amul Shakti’ from ₹63 to ₹67 per litre, ‘Amul Gold’ from ₹70 to ₹74 per litre, and buffalo full-cream milk from ₹80 to ₹86 per litre.
Impact on household budgets
The hike in milk prices will now affect monthly household budgets. Families that purchase milk daily will face higher expenses. For instance, a family buying one litre of ‘Amul Taaza’ (toned milk) every day will now have to spend approximately ₹60 to ₹62 more per month.
Similarly, families purchasing ‘Amul Shakti’ or ‘Amul Gold’ will have to pay about ₹120 to ₹124 extra each month. The steepest increase will be for those who buy buffalo full-cream milk; they will end up paying approximately ₹180 more per month for a daily purchase of one litre. Consequently, this price hike will directly impact the pockets of ordinary households.
Why has milk become more expensive?
The primary reason cited for the increase in milk prices is the rise in production and processing costs. Over the past few months, the prices of green and dry fodder, animal feed, oilcake, maize, jaggery, packaging materials, and fuel have increased. Additionally, the cost of milk fat has risen by approximately 20 to 25 percent.
According to Amul, milk production and supply have been affected in several parts of the country, including Gujarat, due to deficient and irregular rainfall. Under these circumstances, the cost of procuring milk from farmers has also gone up. The company states that the price increase is intended to provide better remuneration to milk producers and encourage them to boost production.
