D K Shivakumar defended Karnataka's ₹8-a-litre milk price increase as necessary during the drought. The revision aims to secure dairy livelihoods while keeping Nandini products comparatively affordable.Milk to get costlier in Karnataka from November 1.

Karnataka,Oct 31, 2026 14:48 ISTKarnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday defended the increase in milk prices, saying it was necessary to protect farmers’ interests as the state faced a severe drought, news agency Press Trust of India reported. He said the decision also reflected the government’s respect for the cow and its commitment to protecting cattle.The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday approved an increase of Rs 8 a litre for all categories of milk.

The revised prices will take effect on November 1. Shivakumar said milk producers had sought an increase of Rs 12 a litre.“Prices are much higher in neighbouring states, and farmers in Karnataka were moving their milk to those states.

Milk availability is declining as well. Due to drought, milk production has come down,” Shivakumar told reporters, according to PTI.“We have no other option.

If we want to protect our cows, we must provide them with good food. To provide them with food, we need fodder.

For fodder to be available, farmers must be in a good financial position and have money in their hands. Only when farmers have money can they sustain this; otherwise, production will keep declining,” he said. “We must do our part to show respect to Gomata, the cow revered as a mother, and protect cattle.

Keeping the drought situation in mind, we have given this decision considerable thought,” Shivakumar added.He said milk prices had not been revised for several years, prompting the government to take the decision. Asked about the 14 per kg increase in the price of Nandini curd, he said the Karnataka Milk Federation would decide curd prices. “We have intervened only in the price of milk.

As far as the other factors are concerned, if the fat content is higher, a corresponding rate is fixed, and the price goes up accordingly,” he said.In a subsequent post on X, Shivakumar said the Karnataka government remained committed to protecting the livelihoods of dairy farmers while keeping Nandini products affordable for consumers. He cited rising fodder and labour costs, higher fuel and packaging expenses, and a fall in daily milk procurement because of the drought as the main reasons for the revision.Of the Rs 8 increase per litre, Rs 7 will go directly to farmers, raising the procurement price from 35 to 42 a litre, Shivakumar said.

The remaining 1 will go to milk unions for operational expenses. Including the 5 incentive provided by the government, farmers will receive 47 for every litre of milk.A farmer supplying 10 litres of milk a day will earn an additional 2,100 a month, Shivakumar said.

The price revision is expected to generate additional annual income of between Rs 1,850 crore and Rs 2,100 crore for dairy farming families in Karnataka.“Karnataka has a total of 28.84 lakh dairy farmers, of whom 67 per cent of KMF members are small and marginal farmers. This decision is a significant step towards providing fair remuneration for their hard work,” the Chief Minister said.Even after the revision, Nandini toned milk will cost 54 a litre, lower than the prices of several major dairy brands in the country, he said.

Nandini Shubham milk, which has 4.5 per cent fat content, will cost Rs 60 a litre, compared with the average price of Rs 62.80 in 10 other states.“Our government is committed to both protecting the interests of farmers and ensuring the supply of quality milk to consumers at affordable prices,” Shivakumar said. The government has maintained that the Rs 8-a-litre increase is needed to support dairy farmers amid higher costs, drought and declining milk production while keeping milk affordable for consumers.- Ends