COVID: Sale of milk and its products on decline in Aurangabad

The sale of milk and dairy products has been on the decline in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district since the coronavirus-induced lockdown came into force due to the demand slump, according to an association of milk producers.

The Aurangabad district Cooperative Milk Producers Union (ADCMPU) said on Tuesday the sale of milk packets has come down as hotels are out of business now.

"We generally collect 80,000-85,000 litres of milk everyday directly from farmers. Prior to the lockdown, we were selling 50,000 litres of milk in packets. This sale has now fallen to 30,000 litres (per day) in the district," ADCMPU vice president Nandlal Kale told PTI.

He said the slump in demand has also adversely affected the sale of milk products.

"Earlier, we used to utilise about 7,000 litres of milk everyday to prepare 11 products. But, we are now using only 1,000-1,200 litres of milk for preparing dairy products," Kale said.

He said Mahanand in Mumbai buys around 15,000 litres of milk every day at the rate of Rs 25 per litre.

"Remaining milk is currently sold to private firms at the rate of Rs 21 per litre," Kale explained.

Mahanand Dairy is a venture of the Maharashtra Rajya Sahakari Dudh Mahasangh Maryadit.

He said the ADCMPU is currently suffering the loss of Rs 1 lakh per day, after the state government stopped paying grant since July 27.

Image: Representational