Rains may boost milk output ahead of festivals

NEW DELHI: A revival in monsoon rains is expected to boost the country’s milk production which had dropped 10% in June from a year ago, according to dairy companies.

“We have seen an increase in milk procurement in Maharashtra, which is good news for consumers and farmers,” said RS Sodhi, managing director of Amul brand owner Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF). “Prices of milk will remain stable with good monsoon rains,” he said.

According to Sodhi, the flush season, when production increases because of an abundance of green fodder, has started in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra, which will increase supply and stabilise prices.


Rahul Kumar, managing director of Lactalis India, said June milk procurement was 10-12% lower than a year ago, but this was likely to recover. “The big relief is that milk procurement has started increasing in July. If the rains had remained weak, then we had no option but to increase prices,” said Kumar.

Lactalis is a French company that owns Tirumala Milk Products, Anik Industries and Maharashtra-based Prabhat Dairy. Increased rainfall is also likely to reduce prices of cattlefeed, dairy executives said. Most dairies had raised milk procurement prices by 20% in recent months due to a fall in production.

“This year we saw a 5% drop in milk procurement compared with the previous year. Now with the water availability in dams increasing, the situation is expected to improve,” said RG Chandramogan, MD of Chennai-based Hatsun Agro Products.