(a) whether the prices of milk and milk products like cheese, butter
and poultry products have risen in the recent past;
(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the reasons therefor;
(c) whether less availability of fodder has contributed to the
decline in milk production;
(d) if so, the details thereof and there action of the Government
thereto; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to bring down the prices of
the above products?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSIN INDUSTRIES (SHRI ARUN YADAV)
a) & (b) Rate of inflation of milk, on year on year basis, for the week ending
5th February, 2011 was 11.66% and that of Egg, Meat & Fish was 15.14%.
Increase in prices is mainly attributed to increase in cost of production.
c) No
d) Milk production has increased from 108.58 million tonnes during
2008-09 to 112.54 million tonnes during 2009-10.
e) The price of milk is not regulated by Central Government. The
Government has taken following measures to augment the availability of
liquid milk and to stabilize the prices of milk and milk products in
the domestic market:
1. National Dairy Development Board has been allowed to import
30,000 MT of Skimmed Milk Powder and Whole milk powder and 15,000 MT
of Butter, Butter oil and anhydrous milk fat at 0% concessional duty
under Tariff Rate Quota for the year 2011-12 for reconstitution of
milk by State Milk Federations and Metro Dairies.
2. The Duty Entitlement Pass Book (DEPB) benefit for export of
casein has been withdrawn with effect from 24.1.2011.
3. State Milk Federations have been instructed to take all necessary
action to ensure adequate availability of liquid milk to the consumers
at a reasonable price.