Non-payment of milk producers forces farmers to suffer

Milk producers are facing a lot of problems due to non-payment of milk by Himachal Pradesh Milkfed for the past two months. President Premdas Sharma and Secretary Kuldeep Thakur of Jai Durga Milk Cooperative Society Peeran Nariga said that milk producers are facing a lot of financial problems due to non-payment of milk for the past two months. Milk production is the only source of income for many cattle farmers. Due to non-payment of milk on time, it has become difficult for cattle farmers to meet the daily needs of their families. They said that even after December 2025, Himachal Pradesh Milkfed has not paid the milk producers.
Secretary Kuldeep Thakur informed that through the Peeran Milk Cooperative Society, more than 300 liters of milk is sent by 60 cattle rearers to the chilling plant Maryog located on the border of Sirmaur district. It should be noted that the chilling plant’s vehicle comes to the doorstep every day to collect milk, which is especially beneficial for poor families. Some milk producers belong to very poor families for whom milk production is their only source of income. Milk producers say that if Milkfed does not pay for the milk on time, they will be forced to protest in front of the Shimla Secretariat.
Secretary Kuldeep Thakur said that six milk cooperative societies namely Peeran Nariga, Shargaon, Neineti, Chakhal, Chabiul and Maryog are functioning under the chilling plant Maryog but the payment for milk has not been made in any of the cooperative societies yet. Milk producers of all the cooperative societies are upset due to non-payment of milk on time. Milk producers of Peeran Chanchal Verma, Kamal Verma, Prakash Verma and many other farmers said that the rate of milk through the chilling plant has never been more than Rs 45 to 48 per kilogram. Milk is tested once a month with a lactometer and on that basis the payment for the entire month is made whereas the government has fixed the minimum rate at Rs 50.
Dunni Chand, in-charge of the milk chilling plant, stated that the matter of milk payment to cattle farmers has been referred to Himachal Pradesh Milkfed, Shimla. It is hoped that payment to milk producers will be made soon.