Nandini Milk Price Hike: Milk prices for brand Nandini are set to increase by Rs 8 per litre from November 1, 2026, after the Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday approved the milk hike. Of the Rs 8 increase, Rs 7 will go to farmers and Re 1 to milk cooperatives, Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said.
The latest increase comes more than a year after prices were raised by Rs 4 per litre in April 2025. Toned milk had then risen from Rs 42 to Rs 46 per litre, with unions citing higher costs of cattle feed, fodder, medicines, transport and packaging, besides fodder shortage due to drought.
With the new rates scheduled to take effect on November 1, consumers will bear the brunt of higher milk prices, while the government expects the bulk of the additional revenue to provide greater financial support to dairy farmers.
"Given the crisis faced by farmers, members of all parties in the Legislative Council had called for measures to support them. Milk producers themselves had taken to the streets in protest, and the cooperatives had also pressed for an increase," Gowda said.
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"Respecting these demands, the Cabinet has today decided to increase the price paid to milk-producing farmers by Rs 7 per litre. In addition, the cooperatives will receive an increase of Re 1 per litre. Thus, the total increase will be Rs 8 per litre."
The Cabinet Minister said the issue was discussed in the Cabinet on two or three occasions, and now this decision has been taken unanimously."
Citing the reason for the high cost, he said when farmers were protesting, representatives of their cooperatives met the Chief Minister, the Minister concerned for Animal Husbandry and the Cooperation Minister. They insisted that the price should be increased by at least Rs 10 per litre.
"Although farmers demanded an increase of Rs 10 per litre, it was felt that so much increase cannot be done. After discussions in the Cabinet today, under the chairmanship of the chief minister, we decided on an increase of Rs 8 per litre, of which Rs 7 will go to the farmers and Re 1 to the milk cooperatives," he said.
Gowda said that currently, farmers in Karnataka receive around Rs 35 per litre, in addition to the government's incentive of Rs 5 per litre. Going forward, the price paid to farmers will increase from Rs 35 to Rs 42 per litre. The government's incentive of Rs 5 per litre will continue.
"This means farmers will receive a total of Rs 47 per litre, including the government incentive. This will benefit lakhs of farming families," he added.
( With inputs from PTI )