Basudevpur: Farmers and members of 13 milk cooperative societies under Basudevpur block in Bhadrak district Tuesday dumped gallons of milk outside Omfed’s cold storage unit here in protest against an alleged anti-farmer policy pursued by the dairy firm.
Over 1,000 litres of milk was dumped on the road during the protest.
The agitating milk producers alleged OMFED had all of a sudden stopped procuring milk from them citing a host of excuses, thus causing them heavy losses.
The agitators warned to intensify their stir if Omfed authorities failed to sort out the issue and lift restrictions on the procurement of milk. “We will gherao the Omfed office if these steps are not taken,” the protesters said.
Reports said Tuesday, members of 13 milk cooperative societies and private milk producers of Chiraola, Lunga, Guagadia, Kiapada, Mandari, Balinagar, Brahamangan, Chudamnai, Bhairabpur, Belasaunlia, Bachhipur and Jasoda dairy had brought their milk to Bamul cold storage Tuesday.
But the cold storage unit in-charge said milk will not be procured if it fails to meet quality standards.
The farmers, however, complained that the Omfed authorities had not intimated the societies about the new guidelines either verbally or through any sort of official communication.
Amid grueling heat, the farmers waited for long for sale of the milk, but the cold storage in-charge did not accept milk which eventually became curdled.
In a huff, farmers dumped the milk on the road and warned of stepping up their agitation if the issue was not sorted out by Omfed. PNN
