Despite over 105 million tonnes of expected milk output, the government is likely to import skimmed milk powder (SMP) in the coming weeks to tackle price rise and shortage of the product in the domestic market.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha on Tuesday (July 28), the minister of state for agriculture, consumer affairs, food and public distribution, K V Thomas, said, "The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has been advised to work out a contingency plan to import SMP under the Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) if the situation so warrants in the coming weeks."
"Milk production at national level is by and large sufficient to meet the domestic consumption of milk and milk products. In case of acute shortage, import of milk powder at 5% import duty for up to a quantity of 10,000 tonnes under TRQ is permitted to ensure supply of the product, the minister added.
In India, the prices of milk powder tend to rise during summer as the production/procurement of milk plunges due to heat stress on milch animals.
The country registered 104.8 million tonnes milk production in 2007-08. Further, the minister also informed that the price of milk powder in India is ruling at Rs 140 a kg in July, compared with Rs 97 a kg in the US and Oceania and Rs 114 a kg in Western Europe.
Source : FNBNEWS.COM