COIMBATORE: As the arrival of milk from milk producers’ societies in rural pockets has come down drastically, Aavin, Coimbatore District Milk Producers Cooperative Union, has started selling low fat milk for the past several days to cope with the increasing consumer demand.
Normally,the demand is very high for regular high fat (4.5 per cent) milk filled in green colour sachet priced Rs 20.50 a litre. But, the milk production is down due to the shortage of natural cattle feeds like grass and green leaves during drought conditions in rural areas.
“Hence, we have reduced the supply of high fat milk to some extent and instead, increased low fat (3 per cent) milk in blue sachet for easy sale and identification. Mainly, the middle class families seek high fat milk. But the fat difference between milk in green and blue sachet is 1.5 per cent. Also the low fat milk is sold at Rs 16.50,” an official from Aavin marketing office at R S Puram, said.
At present, 1.20 lakh litres of high fat milk are sold while 42,00 low fat milk is distributed. However, cardholders, who had paid monthly amount for high fat milk, are supplied through Aavin milk booths without any complaints. Low fat milk is sold to others who get directly from shops and booths paying instant cash, marketing office sources said.
Manis, salesman at a grocery shop in Ramanathapuram, said, “We used to sell high fat milk of 40 litres a day. For the past few days, only five litres are given to our shop. Regular customers frown at us while giving the low fat milk. Some customers even complain that it is not milk, rather milk water.”
Most grocery shops and booths in Olyambus and Ramanathpuram and Singanallur echoed the same when this reporter visited these areas. However, to tide over the crisis, top officials of Aavin conducted a meeting with milk producers and staff on Monday.