05-November-2026
Reports published on 4 November describe higher Amul butter and ghee prices, with GCMMF citing increased milk-production costs. Reports consistently place the revised 500-gram butter price at ₹325, but differ over some ghee pack descriptions and the effective date. The federation should provide an unambiguous product-wise clarification.
Beyond the immediate price revision lies a question that cooperative dairy leadership should answer routinely.
The Dairy Times believes fair consumer prices and viable farmer incomes belong in the same discussion. A producer facing higher feed, veterinary and other costs cannot be expected to absorb every increase indefinitely.
But consumers are entitled to understand a price rise, and farmer ownership should be accompanied by visible accountability.
The Dairy Times questions how much additional realisation supports procurement payments, how much meets processing and distribution costs, and how much strengthens reserves or future investment. A retail increase does not automatically establish an equivalent improvement in the farmer’s income.
Equally, comparing retail and procurement prices without recognising processing costs would be misleading.
The Dairy Times recommends a simple cooperative disclosure accompanying significant revisions: what changed, which products are affected, the effective date and how member benefits are expected to arise.
Farmer representatives should receive understandable information on procurement rates, quality incentives and the timing of benefits.
Consumers should not be asked to accept a price increase on trust alone. Farmers should not be invoked to justify it without evidence of how their position improves.
Suggested tags: GCMMF–Amul; Gujarat’s district milk unions; NDDB; NCDFI; Ministry of Cooperation; Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying; Department of Consumer Affairs; dairy farmer organisations.
