They took the decision after Dairy Development Corporation (DDC), state owned market leader, boycotted two times the tripartite meetings called among farmers , DDC and dairy producers on Sunday and Tuesday by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) -- the dairy industry regulator.
The meetings, which were aimed at coming to common understanding to raise the price of fresh milk, ended inconclusively due to the absence of DDC representatives. DDC commands 45 percent of the total dairy market in the country.
“Dairy farmers and private dairies have decided to request the MoAC to take initiatives to address the demands of dairy farmers who are protesting for the last few days demanding increase in milk prices,” said Dhaka Ram Aryal , chairman of Central Dairy Co-operatives, an umbrella organization of dairy farmers.
Farmers and private dairies are going to meet Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav on Sunday.
The DDC boycotted the tripartite meeting called for Sunday and Tuesday saying that fixing of milk prices by market players is cartelling.
“The DDC is independent to fix prices of its products on its own. There is no need for consultation with other parties to decide about prices, so we didn´t attend the meeting which was called only for raising milk price,” Yadav said.
He also clarified that DDC, as a public sector entity, has to raise price of milk responsibly keeping in mind the interests of both the consumers and dairy farmers. Since last week farmers are in protest with different demands including rise in milk price by Rs 6 to Rs 8 per liter, citing skyrocketing production costs.
They had given a weeklong ultimatum to the government last week threatening to take to the streets if the government fails to address their demand immediately. Farmers are selling fresh milk for Rs 20 to Rs 22 per liter.
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