Mumbai: Consumers in Maharashtra will have to face the brunt of inflation as the prices of both cow and buffalo milk are set to increase by two rupees per litre. The revised rates will come into effect from Tuesday, August 11.
The decision was officially finalised during a recent meeting held by the Milk Producers and Processors Welfare Association. The association represents major cooperative and private dairies operating across the state. The crucial meeting was chaired by the association president Gopalrao Mhaske, who highlighted the mounting financial pressure on dairy operators.
According to the association, the price hike is a direct consequence of rising operational costs. In recent times, diesel prices have witnessed an increase of ten rupees per litre, significantly inflating transportation expenses. Additionally, the cost of packaging materials has surged by nearly thirty percent. Dairy owners also pointed out that they are now paying a higher procurement price to farmers for raw milk, and these procurement costs are anticipated to rise further in the near future.
The financial impact will not be limited to raw milk alone. The association has also decided to raise the prices of allied dairy products by up to ten percent. Essential items like curd, paneer and other milk based products will now cost more, placing an additional financial burden on common households. Families that purchase large quantities of milk daily will experience a noticeable strain on their monthly budgets.
This regional price increase follows a broader national trend. Earlier in May, prominent brands including Amul, Mother Dairy, Sudha and Jaipur Dairy had raised milk prices across the country. At that time, companies cited similar reasons of escalating input costs. Global factors have also played a role in this inflationary trend. Ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly the conflict involving Iran, have disrupted shipping movements through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. This disruption has directly impacted global supply chains and fuel prices, ultimately cascading into higher domestic transportation costs in India.