Punjab Hikes Milk Procurement Price by ₹20/kg Fat to Boost Dairy Farmers

Gurpreet Singh :- In a significant move aimed at strengthening the rural economy, the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has announced an increase in the milk procurement price for farmers associated with Milkfed Punjab (Verka brand), effective from May 1, 2026. The decision entails a hike of ₹20 per kilogram of fat, a step expected to enhance the income of dairy farmers and reinforce the cooperative dairy framework in the state. According to official sources, the initiative has been undertaken to safeguard the interests of nearly 2.5 lakh dairy farmers linked with Milkfed, who form the backbone of Punjab’s rural economy. The price revision is also likely to influence private players and other procurement agencies to raise their rates, benefiting around 30 lakh milk producers across the state. As a leading dairy cooperative in North India, Milkfed’s move is expected to have a widespread economic impact, injecting an estimated ₹100 crore additional income into Punjab’s rural sector every month.