Bengaluru, 19 September 2026: Milk producers' associations and representatives of various milk unions have urged the Karnataka government to increase the price of Nandini milk by at least ₹8 to ₹10 per litre, citing rising cattle feed costs and declining milk production.
Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) is also preparing to submit a proposal to the state government seeking a revision in milk prices, according to representatives.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, BAMUL director Satish Kadathanamane said farmers should receive an incentive of ₹8 per litre. He also demanded that the existing milk incentive be increased from ₹5 to ₹8 per litre.
He said the shortage of rainfall in the state has created drought-like conditions, affecting the availability of fodder for cattle. As a result, maintaining dairy cattle has become increasingly difficult for milk producers. Representatives said they have been requesting the government to increase milk prices and producer incentives for the past eight months, but have not received a satisfactory response.
Cattle Feed Costs Rise
Shortage of rainfall has reduced the availability of both green and dry fodder, forcing farmers to purchase feed at higher prices. Milk producers' representatives also said the prices of raw materials used in cattle feed production, including maize, oil cakes, bran and molasses, have increased by around 25%.
Mandya Milk Union president Harish Babu, Shivamogga Milk Union's Veerabhadrababu and Chamarajanagar Milk Union president Nanjundaswamy were among those present at the press conference.
Milk Production Falls
Karnataka normally produces around 1.10 crore litres of milk a day. However, milk production has currently declined by around 6–7 lakh litres per day, mainly due to fodder shortages and other factors, the representatives said.
BAMUL former director Nagaraj said the decline in milk production was adding to the difficulties faced by dairy farmers. He also appealed to consumers, along with the government, to understand the problems faced by milk producers.
Three-Day Deadline to Government
Representatives of milk producers' associations have given the state government three days to respond to their demands for a milk price hike and an increase in the incentive paid to farmers.
They warned that if the government fails to respond within the deadline, they will organise a Vidhana Soudha Chalo protest. Representatives said the government should take the difficulties faced by dairy farmers seriously and act on their demands.
Keywords: Nandini milk price hike, Karnataka milk price, KMF milk price, dairy farmers Karnataka, milk producers demand, cattle feed prices, Citizen News Puttur