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Key Points

Sabar Dairy increased milk prices to Rs 995/kg fat after violent farmer protests in Gujarat. The cooperative faced supply disruptions and halted powder production due to the unrest. Farmers demand case withdrawals and compensation for a protester’s death. The dairy, part of the Amul network, collects milk from 1,700 villages.

Key Points: Sabar Dairy Raises Milk Price to Rs 995 After Gujarat Farmer Protests

  • Farmers protested for 5 days over low milk procurement rates
  • Sabar Dairy faced 15L litre daily milk collection drop
  • Violent clashes led to FIRs against 74 including ex-MLA Patel
  • Farmers demand Rs 1 crore compensation for protest death
2 min read

Gujarat: Sabar Dairy announces revised milk price for cattle farmers amid protests

Gujarat’s Sabar Dairy revises milk procurement rate to Rs 995/kg fat after violent farmer protests disrupt supply and production.

"The revised Rs 995 rate will be settled in two phases—Rs 960 advance and Rs 35 post-general meeting. – Sabar Dairy Officials"

Sabarkantha, July 19

After five days of intense protests, Sabar Dairy has revised its annual milk procurement rate, offering Rs 995 per kg of fat to cattle farmers, a Rs 5 increase from the earlier announced rate of Rs 990, officials said on Friday.

The decision follows mounting unrest by dairy farmers across Sabarkantha and Aravalli districts of Gujarat, who have accused the cooperative of underpaying for milk and demanded greater transparency in profit distribution.

The revised rate was approved during a high-level meeting of Sabar Dairy's board of directors held earlier on Friday, with the chairman, vice-chairman, and senior members in attendance.

According to officials, the newly announced Rs 995/kg fat rate will be settled in two phases -- an advance payment already made at Rs 960, and the remaining Rs 35 to be disbursed after the dairy's general meeting.

The announcement comes in the wake of widespread disruptions, including milk supply boycotts, spontaneous village-level protests, and clashes with police.

Farmers from more than 400 village societies, including those in Moti Isrol, Megharaj and Amblia, halted milk supply, poured milk on roads, and symbolically took over chairs of local dairy heads.

The stir led to a 15 lakh litre drop in daily milk collection, forcing the dairy to temporarily halt powder production.

Tensions reached a boiling point earlier this week when a protest outside the Sabar Dairy gate turned violent.

Stone-pelting and lathi-charge were reported, leaving several police personnel injured and dairy property damaged.

Authorities later confirmed the registration of an FIR against 74 individuals, including former MLA and Sabar Dairy board director Jashubhai Patel, along with charges against more than 1,000 unnamed protesters.

A total of 47 people were detained in the aftermath.

The protesting cattle farmers have listed four key demands: immediate withdrawal of all cases filed against dairy farmers, a thorough inquiry into the death of Ashokbhai during the protest, filling of a murder case and appropriate legal action against those responsible.

Compensation of Rs 1 crore each for the deceased's family from the state government and Sabar Dairy.

Sabar Dairy, one of Gujarat's largest milk cooperatives with a turnover of Rs 9,500 crore, collects milk from more than 1,700 villages and is a key member of the Amul/GCMMF network.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The violence was unfortunate but understandable when farmers' livelihoods are at stake. ₹1 crore compensation is justified for the deceased's family. Sabar Dairy should show more empathy towards those who sustain their business.
A
Aman W
As someone from Ahmedabad, I've seen how dairy cooperatives transformed Gujarat. But this incident shows the system needs reforms. Farmers deserve fair prices and transparency in profit sharing. Jai Kisan! 🚜
S
Sarah B
While I support farmers' rights, destroying property and violence isn't the solution. Both sides need to come to the negotiation table. The dairy should have addressed concerns before protests escalated.
V
Vikram M
₹995/kg fat is still lower than what farmers in other states get. Gujarat's White Revolution was built on farmer trust - don't break that. The FIRs against farmers should be withdrawn immediately.
K
Kavya N
My father is a small dairy farmer in Mehsana. People don't realize how much effort goes into maintaining cattle. The price revision is too little too late. Hope this becomes a wake-up call for all cooperatives!

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