Pawar expresses hope to find solution to problems of milk suppliers

New Delhi, Apr 23 (ANI): Showing empathy with the dairy farmers, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Monday expressed hope to find a solution to their problem at the earliest.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Pawar said that the surplus of milk powder in godowns had led to decrease in purchase of dairy farmers.

"I understand the pain of the protestors. Recently I was in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra. In all these states I faced a common complaint. That be it the dairy cooperative or the private sector players, their godowns are filled with milk powder.

"This is because they don't have more capacity to store them. That is why they have stopped taking milk. Now that is why the farmers are complaining and protesting. They say that the prices are decreasing and so is the demand for milk. We are looking into it," said Pawar.

The dairy farmers have been complaining that while they are deprived of rightful dues, companies are planning to sell of milk at hiked rates originally bought at much lower prices from them, and taxing the consumers in the end.

On April 21, the dairy farmers had held a day-long hunger strike to protest against the unfair pricing by private companies supplying milk and dairy products.

The dairy activists had also faxed a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh about the huge wealth amassed by private companies who had been not paying the farmers and live stock-holders but selling milk at hiked rates. (ANI)