Question : PRICE OF SKIMMED MILK POWDER



(a) whether the price of skimmed milk powder is higher at present as compared to the previous year;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(c) the action being taken by the Government in this regard?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI KANTI LAL BHURIA)

(a): Yes, Sir.

(b): The details of increase in the price of skimmed milk powder at Kharibaoli market, Delhi for the period 2004-05 and 2005-06 (upto February 2006) as reported in the print media is given below:

Months	2004-05	2005-06
April 91.81 92.46 May 88.17 96.75 June 80.00 95.83 July 86.33 92.83 August 78.78 88.96 September 67.31 86.79 October 69.78 82.00 November 70.86 82.92 December 74.35 80.71 January 78.21 90.96 February 76.38 95.92 Average 78.56 89.65#
# Average upto February,2006

The large increase in the exports of Skimmed milk powder during the current year from April to September 2005 (about14,600 tonnes) as compared to the corresponding period of last year (about 3100 tonnes) appears to be one of the main reasons for increse in prices of skimmed milk powder as compared to the previous year.

(c): Government of India has not received any report on shortage of milk during the current year (2005-06), despite increase in export of skimmed milk powder in the current year as compared to the previous year (2004-05).