Milk Prices Hiked by Rs 5 Per Litre Across J&K, Dairy Farmers Cite Rising Costs

Ziraat Times News Desk

Jammu, June 1: Milk prices across Jammu and Kashmir have been increased by Rs 5 per litre following a decision by the Jammu Kashmir Dairy Farmers Association (JKDFA), which attributed the hike to rising operational costs and inflationary pressures affecting the dairy sector.

The announcement was made on World Milk Day by JKDFA president Sandeep Singh Chib, who said the decision was taken after assessing the increasing financial burden on dairy farmers and milk suppliers.

According to Chib, escalating transportation and freight charges involved in procuring new breeds of cows and buffaloes from Punjab, coupled with rising feed costs and general inflation, have significantly increased the cost of dairy production.

He said maintaining previous milk rates had become increasingly difficult in view of the growing expenditure faced by dairy farmers.

The association also pointed to recent price revisions by branded milk suppliers, noting that Amul had increased its milk prices by Rs 2 per litre.

Milk prices in Jammu and Kashmir vary depending on locality and supply patterns. Prior to the latest revision, milk in Kashmir was generally being sold at around Rs 54 per litre, although rates differed across districts and localities.

The association said milk is commonly sold at around Rs 50 per litre in rural areas, while prices in urban centres and cities typically range between Rs 55 and Rs 60 per litre.

The latest increase is expected to affect consumers across both urban and rural areas of the Union Territory, where milk remains an essential household commodity.

The revision comes amid broader inflationary pressures, with consumers already facing rising costs of fuel, food items, medicines and other essential goods. According to the dairy farmers’ body, the price hike is aimed at helping producers cope with mounting input costs and sustain dairy operations.