Milk prices in Maharashtra are set to increase from Tuesday, August 11, with both cow and buffalo milk becoming Rs 2 per litre more expensive. The decision was approved by representatives of major cooperative and private dairy companies at a meeting of the Milk Producers and Processors Welfare Association.
The meeting was chaired by association president Gopalrao Mhaske. The price revision is expected to affect household grocery budgets across the state, while dairy products may also become costlier in the coming days.
The dairy industry has cited a sharp rise in operating and input costs as the main reason behind the latest milk price hike.
According to the association, diesel prices have increased by Rs 10 per litre, adding to transportation and distribution expenses. Packaging costs have also risen by around 30 per cent, further increasing the cost of processing and selling milk.
At the same time, the procurement price paid for milk has gone up, and dairy representatives expect it to rise further. The association said that continuing to sell milk at existing prices would put additional financial pressure on dairy businesses.
As a result, major cooperative and private dairies agreed to revise retail prices.
The price increase will apply to both major categories of milk sold in Maharashtra.
From August 11, consumers will pay Rs 2 more per litre for cow milk as well as buffalo milk. The revised price is expected to directly affect families that purchase milk on a daily basis.
For households buying several litres of milk each week, even a Rs 2-per-litre increase could add to monthly grocery expenses.
The price hike is not limited to liquid milk. The Milk Producers and Processors Welfare Association has also approved an increase of up to 10 per cent in the prices of dairy products.
The actual increase will depend on the product and individual dairy company. Items that use milk as a major raw material could see higher prices as dairies adjust to increased procurement, packaging, transportation and processing costs.
Consumers may therefore notice the impact of the decision beyond their regular milk purchases.
The revised milk prices will come into effect across Maharashtra from Tuesday, August 11.
Consumers will have to pay Rs 2 more per litre for both cow and buffalo milk, while dairy products could see price increases of up to 10 per cent.
The association said the decision was necessary because of rising diesel, packaging and milk procurement costs. The latest hike is likely to increase the monthly food expenses of households that regularly purchase milk and other dairy products.
The increase may appear small on a per-litre basis, but milk is a daily essential for millions of households. The cumulative impact could become more noticeable over a month, particularly for families that purchase larger quantities.
With dairy products also facing possible price increases, consumers could see a broader rise in spending on items such as milk-based foods and other dairy products.
The latest revision highlights the continuing pressure on the dairy sector from higher transportation, packaging and procurement costs.