CHITWAN, JUNE 27

Milk producers in Chitwan district incurred huge loss due to the prohibitory order implemented to stem the spread of coronavirus.

The local cooperatives have stopped milk collection after dairy industries stopped placing order.

Chitwan Dairy Producers' Cooperatives organised a press conference here today, informing about the effect of the situation on dairy farmers.

Cooperatives Secretary Kishor Bagale said dairy producers are bearing the brunt of COVID-19 crisis.

On the one hand, regular supply has halted and on the other, some suppliers and middle-persons began bargaining over the price taking undue advantage of the situation. "It could be considered if customers got the products at a fair price, but they are forced to pay high price," he said.

He said, 2,090,214 litres of fresh milk went to waste in the district in the past 45 days, incurring loss equivalent to over Rs 117 million.

Usually, this is the peak season for milk consumption. There are 110 cooperatives in the district that collect milk from farmers. But, during the prohibitory period, almost all (except two) remained closed.

Some industries are forcing farmers to supply milk at Rs 40 per litre and they sell it in the market at double the price, it is said. The daily milk production in the district stands at 315,000 litres. Current supply is just 50 per cent of the production.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 28 2021, of The Himalayan Times.