Dairy Farmers Demand Immediate Rs50 Increase in Milk Prices

KARACHI: Dairy farmers in Karachi have demanded an immediate increase of Rs50 per litre in milk prices, warning of severe financial losses and the risk of livestock starvation in the aftermath of recent floods.

Leaders of the Dairy Farmers Association, addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, said the floods had dealt a serious blow to the dairy sector. They noted that the cost of nearly all inputs used in milk production had risen by about 30%, making it increasingly difficult for farmers to continue operations.

The association stated that dairy farmers are currently incurring losses of around Rs3 billion daily from milk supply operations. Karachi, they said, has over one million cattle and buffalo, producing five million litres of milk each day for the city.

With milk currently priced at Rs220 per litre, the farmers argued that an increase to Rs270 per litre was necessary to sustain the sector. They cautioned that without corrective measures, many animals could face starvation due to the rising costs of fodder and other essentials.

The farmers also set a deadline, declaring that if the Sindh government did not issue a notification approving the price hike by October 1, they would stage a protest outside the Chief Minister’s House.

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