Nagpur: The festive season may be over, but the financial burden on households continues to mount. In a fresh blow to consumers immediately after Diwali, leading dairy companies, including Dinshaw’s, Amul and Mother Dairy, have raised the retail prices of packed milk across Nagpur by Rs 2 to Rs 4 per litre, effective November 12.
The latest revision has pushed up the cost of an essential daily commodity, adding to the pressure on household budgets already strained by rising living expenses. The increase, implemented across different milk variants, has left consumers with little choice but to shell out more for their daily requirements.
Dairy industry sources attributed the price escalation to mounting production and distribution costs. The sharp rise in fodder and cattle feed prices, coupled with higher expenses on packaging materials and transportation, has substantially increased the cost of procuring and supplying milk.
Deficient rainfall in several important milk-producing regions has further aggravated the situation. Adverse weather conditions have affected fodder availability, triggering a steep rise in the prices of both green and dry fodder.
According to market sources, fodder prices have increased by nearly 20 per cent, while cattle feed has become around 10 per cent costlier over the past year. The cumulative impact of these increases has prompted dairy manufacturers to revise consumer prices.
Confirming the hike, Dr Ajay Upadhaya, Vice-President of Dinshaw’s Dairy Foods Pvt. Ltd., said the revised rates had come into effect from November 12, with increases ranging between Rs 2 and Rs 4 per litre, depending on the variety.
Giving details, he said the price of full cream milk had been increased by Rs 4 per litre, from Rs 72 to Rs 76. The company has also effected proportionate increases across its other milk categories.
Other major players, including Amul and Mother Dairy, have followed suit, revising the prices of their packed milk variants by Rs 2 to Rs 4 per litre from Thursday.
Nagpur consumes up to 6 lakh litres daily
The price hike comes at a time when packed milk consumption in Nagpur remains substantial. Industry estimates put the city’s daily demand at around 5 lakh to 6 lakh litres, making even a marginal increase per litre a significant additional burden on consumers.
With all major dairy brands revising their rates, households across the city are set to feel the impact of the increase every day. For consumers, the post-Diwali price shock has turned an essential kitchen staple into another source of mounting expenditure.
