Post News Network
Bargarh: Irate farmers poured 30,000 litre of milk, including 10,000 litre held in an Omfed milk tanker, on a road here Thursday in protest against the latter’s refusal to procure milk from them.
The farmers waylaid the Omfed milk tanker at Gandhi Square and then let its contents out on the road. Omfed authorities had refused to buy milk from the farmers, saying it was “sub-standard and adulterated,” alleged the farmers.
Omfed authorities condemned the deliberate wastage of a precious food item by the farmers. Based on a complaint lodged by Omfed’s assistant manager Samir Muduli, a case was registered against the farmers at Town police station. Police said investigation is on.
The state-owned Orissa State Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Ltd (Omfed) has been collecting milk from farmers through its subsidiary, Samaleshwari Milk Producers Association. The farmers alleged that Omfed was paying them only Rs 23 per litre of milk and selling it at Rs 35 in the market. They blamed “managerial problems and apathetic attitude” of Omfed for this situation.
“Despite paying farmers less than the appropriate price for milk, Omfed refused to buy the whole stock of the farmers,” said Sureswar Satapathy, president of Bargarh District Milk Producing Farmers Association. Tension prevailed after Omfed refused to procure milk from the farmers for a week by terming it as sub-standard and adulterated.