Amul hikes milk prices in Gujarat by Rs 2

The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets milk and milk products under the brand Amul, has hiked prices of milk by Rs 2 per litre in Gujarat in markets of Ahmedabad and Saurashtra-Kutch.

The price hike, which translates to a 3-4 percent increase in MRP, will be effective from April 1, 2023. In these markets of Gujarat, for the 500ml packs, the price of Amul Gold will be Rs 32, Amul Taaza Rs 26 and Amul Shakti will be Rs 29.

The increase in MRP, Amul says, is lower than the overall average food inflation.

The price hikes in Gujarat come after Amul increased the prices of its pouch milk in all other markets in February 2023. At the time, prices were hiked by anywhere between 3-5 rupees.

Before this, Amul hiked prices in October 2022 by Rs 2 per litre.

GCMMF, however, said in a statement that Amul has hiked milk prices in Gujarat only once before since April 1, 2022.

"This increase in milk prices was about 3-4 percent whereas cattle feed cost alone has increased by 13-14 percent over the last year which has  resulted in an increase in overall cost of milk production along with other input cost for our farmers."

It added that GCMMF's member unions have also increased procurement prices to the farmers in the range of 13-15 percent (Rs 80 to Rs 100 Rs per Kg fat) over the previous year.

The price revision, Amul says, will help in sustaining remunerative milk prices to its milk producers and encourage them to produce more milk in the upcoming summer season, which is typically a lean production period for milk as against the winter.