Get ready to cough up more for milk

VADODARA: The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) that markets brand Amul has decided to raise prices of milk across Gujarat, except in Vadodara, with effect from Saturday.
TOI had reported on Sunday that GCMMF was all set to revise milk prices this week for the first time in 2009 and the seventh time since 2006. After the last price hike that came into effect in July 2008, the prices of four variants of liquid milk sold as Amul Gold (whole milk), Amul Shakti (standardised milk), Amul Taaza (toned milk) and Amul Slim and Trim stood at Rs 24, Rs 22, Rs 20 and Rs 18 per litre respectively.
"We are revising prices of Amul Gold, Amul Shakti, Amul Tea Special and Amul Cow milk. We are not increasing prices of Amul Taaza and Amul Slim and Trim which is consumed by economically weaker sections," said GCMMF's chief general manager RS Sodhi.
This means that you will be paying Rs 25 and Rs 23 for every litre of Amul Gold and Shakti while Amul Tea Special and Amul Cow milk which were earlier priced at Rs 22 and Rs 21 per litre will now cost Rs 23 and Rs 22 per litre respectively.
Although Barodians can save some money from their pockets for the time being, even Baroda Dairy will revise the prices sooner or later. Even in the past there have been instances when Baroda Dairy has revised the prices a month or two later than the other dairies of Gujarat.
Surtis, will, however feel more heat as Sumul Dairy since years charged Re 1 more per litre to consumers in their territory compared to the rest in Gujarat.
"The price revision has happened because of rise in cattlefeed inputs. We are spending Rs 100 crore more in procuring cattlefeed," said Sodhi. "Citizens in Gujarat, however, pay much less compared to other cities," he added.