Dairy farmers in Una district staged a protest on Monday outside the HP MILKFED collection centre in Lalsinghi, demanding the removal of a recently imposed cap on milk procurement and resolution of long-pending payment issues. The protest highlights growing frustration among milk producers who claim the state government's policies are hurting their livelihoods.
Key Demands and Grievances
Rajinder Kumar, a protester, stated that the state government had capped the maximum milk procurement at 20 litres per day per farmer. He added that payments had not been made regularly, with dues for two to three months still pending. The farmers also objected to MILKFED's decision to bar new farmers from selling milk to the government centre, calling it unjust and discouraging young entrepreneurs from dairy farming.
Official Response and Intervention
Plant Operator Akshay Khanna at the Una MILKFED collection-cum-chilling centre expressed helplessness in addressing the farmers' demands. Meanwhile, Una MLA Satpal Singh Satti visited the plant and spoke with Khanna and Kangra-based MILKFED Unit in-charge Akhilesh Parashar. Parashar informed Satti that the issue of the procurement cap had been escalated to the headquarters for relaxation, as farmers producing over 20 litres daily would need alternative marketing options.
MLA's Statement and Payment Update
Addressing the media, Satti urged the state government to resolve the three issues promptly. He noted that payments for May were credited to farmers' bank accounts on Monday, but June payments remained pending. The protest underscores the challenges faced by dairy farmers in Himachal Pradesh, where state-run milk federations are struggling to manage procurement and payments amid rising production costs.
