Milma’s Ernakulam Union demands immediate hike in milk price, stages sit-in over delay
Kochi / April 18, 2026
Kochi, Apr 18: Members of the governing body of Milma’s Ernakulam Regional Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union (ERCMPU) today submitted a letter to the Milma Chairman and Managing Director demanding immediate implementation of the decision of the Milma Federation to increase in milk price in view of steep rise in production cost.
They also staged a sit-in protest in front of the Federation office at Thiruvananthapuram Federation office to press the demand. The letter was submitted by ERCMPU Chairman C. N. Valsalan Pillai along with Federation governing body members T. N. Sathyan, Tara Unnikrishnan, and K. K. Johnson.
In August last year, ERCMPU had submitted a memorandum to Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF) seeking a hike in milk price considering the steep increase in production cost, seriously impacting the dairy sector.
Following this, a three-member committee was formed to study the matter and submit a report, which recommended increase of up to Rs 6 per litre of milk. Subsequently, a Federation meeting was held and a decision was taken to increase the milk price and entrusted Milma Chairman to implement the decision.
However, the implementation of the decision has been delayed by the members of the federation owing allegiance to the ruling parties, citing technical reasons.
A decision on the price increase cannot be delayed considering the steep rise in price of cattle feed, essential commodities and labour cost, which had pushed the dairy sector into a severe financial crisis. Also, severe summer heat has significantly reduced milk production, dealing a grim blow to the farmers. The prevailing situation has forced many small-scale farmers to exit the sector. It is Milma’s responsibility to protect those who have stayed in the sector despite heavy challenges faced by them.
Considering these exceptional circumstances, ERCMPU wanted the immediate implementation of the federation’s decision to increase the milk price.
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