Gujarat: 'It's About Our Survival,' Says Farmer As Cattle Breeders Escalate Protest Over Low Milk Prices In Aravalli
Aravalli: The dairy heartland of Aravalli district is boiling over. For the third consecutive day, cattle breeders have escalated their vehement protest against the Sabar Dairy administration, pouring thousands of liters of precious milk onto the roads and bringing the region's milk supply chain to a grinding halt. The district, typically a bustling hub of dairy production, now echoes with the defiant cries of farmers demanding a crucial 25% hike in milk rates, a plea that has so far fallen on deaf ears.
About The Protest
The escalating crisis has triggered an acute shortage across dairies, leaving storage facilities dangerously depleted. What began as a simmering discontent has now erupted into widespread anger, exacerbated by police complaints filed against protesting farmers and a recent clash with authorities at the Himmatnagar Dairy.
"This is not just about money; it's about our survival," declared Alpeshbhai Chimanbhai Patel, a cattle breeder with 15 years of experience, his voice raw with frustration. "The milk price we're getting is unsustainable. We urge the government to intervene and resolve this matter immediately."
The resolve of the protesting farmers is palpable. Since early morning, large gatherings of cattle farmers have congregated outside milk societies across Aravalli, expressing their profound discontent by dramatically pouring milk brought from their own homes.
In a particularly striking display of defiance, farmers in Wanta Rampur village engaged in a mass milk-dumping protest. Meanwhile, in Isrol and Umedpur villages, locals, particularly women, resorted to a symbolic "cremation procession," carrying and then burning an effigy representing the Sabar Dairy administration – a powerful demonstration of their deep-seated anger.
The core demands of the agitating cattle farmers are clear: a fair and immediate decision on the milk price hike and the withdrawal of all police action taken against them.
The economic strain on these farming families is immense. "We are only demanding that the price of milk should ensure us a 20 to 25 percent profit," pleaded a woman from Amblia Dairy, her voice weary but firm. "You should come to our stable and witness the sheer labor involved – how we lift cow dung, cut fodder, and carry burdens on our heads. We work tirelessly, and we deserve a fair return."
For middle-class cattle breeders, who depend on bi-weekly milk payments to manage their households, the three-day shutdown has been financially devastating. Many fear their very livelihoods are at stake.
The ripple effect of this agitation is now reaching urban areas. With milk filling completely halted, the supply of pasteurized milk pouches from Sabar Dairy has ceased. This disruption could soon leave city dwellers without their morning tea, and if the standoff persists, even young children who rely on milk for their sustenance face the grim prospect of going without.
Sabar Dairy, a vital source of income for thousands of cattle breeders in Aravalli and Sabarkantha districts, is now at the center of a rapidly intensifying storm.
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