There is a milk war going on in Andhra Pradesh. The government is promoting Amul dairy, stating that farmers would get high prices and that it would benefit farmers. However, speculations are that higher prices are just a myth. Telugu Desam Party MLA and Sangam dairy Chairman from Guntur district Dhulipalla Narendra has thrown a challenge to the government. He is questioning why the Jagan government was showing love towards Amul Dairy.
Narendra also challenged that if they are given the facilities provided to Amul in terms of infrastructure, they can give an additional Rs 30 per litre to the farmers. According to the government, the farmers would get only Rs 7 extra from Amul. Earning an additional Rs 30 per litre is a good profit for a dairy farmer. It has to be seen whether the government accepts this challenge and whether Sangam dairy could provide Rs 30 per litre to farmers.
Sangam dairy chairman along with directors addressed a press conference and found fault with the government for having spent Rs 3,000 crore for providing infrastructure to Amul. He said it is difficult to comprehend why the AP CM who should be the brand ambassador for Vijaya Dairy, has become a brand ambassador for Amul. Narendra said that it is surprising that the Chief Minister was working for Gujarat organizations instead of AP organizations. It can be understood that there is a politics behind Sangam dairy being targeted, but the person who shed tears for Ongole dairy during elections is targeting even that dairy also.
He alleged that the governments in other states were not spending money on Amul as they are only bearing the costs, but in Andhra Pradesh, the entire cost is being borne by the government. He criticised the government for neglecting cooperative dairies by encouraging Amul and added that the name of the state should be changed to Amul Pradesh. He even recalled Sangam dairy having provided Rs 225 crore as bonus to the farmers during the last 25 years.
He alleged that the government weakened the Visakha Dairy which was in the hands of CPI leaders. The Visakha Dairy which used to procure milk from five districts is now limited to procuring from three districts only. He said that it was not right for the government to say a farmer should provide milk to one particular organization. He alleged that the government which was giving money through the Cheyutha Scheme is forcing the farmers to provide milk only to Amul. If the government can provide all the facilities which are provided to Amul, they can pay Rs 30 additional per litre to the farmers, said Narendra. It appears that Sangam Diary, which is the biggest in the State is right in saying so and that the government should not neglect such a proposal.
