Bengaluru, September 28, 2026: The debate over a possible increase in Nandini milk prices has intensified in Karnataka, with cooperative milk unions seeking higher prices while the state government examines the impact on both dairy farmers and consumers.

Representatives of  Karnataka’s milk unions have been pressing for an increase in the price of  Nandini milk, citing rising expenses related to cattle feed, fodder, veterinary care, transportation, electricity and milk processing. The issue has gained renewed attention following meetings between milk union representatives and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

The demand has varied during recent discussions, with milk unions seeking increases ranging from 8 to 12 per litre. In the latest discussions, the unions have sought a 12-per-litre increase, with a portion proposed for milk producer societies. The final amount, however, has not been approved by the state government.

Government Seeks More Data

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has indicated that a final decision will be taken after examining relevant financial and market data. The government is also comparing milk prices and procurement rates in neighbouring states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The government has also sought information on production costs, milk procurement, processing expenses and the financial position of the milk unions before taking a decision.

Milk Unions Cite Rising Costs

Milk producers and cooperative unions have argued that the cost of maintaining cattle has increased considerably. Higher prices for feed, fodder, medicines and other inputs have put additional pressure on dairy farmers.

According to recent reports, Karnataka’s 16 milk unions together procure approximately 1.04 crore litres of milk every day and sell around 62.48 lakh litres of milk and curd. More than 25 lakh milk producers are associated with the cooperative network through over 15,000 producer societies.

The drought situation in parts of Karnataka has also affected fodder availability, adding to the concerns of dairy farmers and milk unions.

Financial Performance Varies Among Milk Unions

The financial position of individual milk unions is another factor in the ongoing discussion.

Data reported for April to July 2026 showed that 11 of Karnataka’s 16 milk unions recorded profits, with a combined profit of about 39.95 crore. Five unions reported losses during the same period, with Chikkaballapur recording the highest reported loss of approximately 11.88 crore. Bengaluru’s BAMUL reported a profit of about 15.73 crore during the period.

The figures indicate that the financial situation is not uniform across all milk unions.

Consumers Await Final Decision

Any increase in Nandini milk prices could directly affect household budgets, hotels, restaurants, tea shops and other businesses that use milk regularly.

The government therefore faces the task of considering the demands of milk producers and cooperative unions while also assessing the effect of a price revision on consumers.

For now, no final statewide retail price increase has been announced. The proposal is expected to be considered after the government completes its review and discussions at the Cabinet level.

The final decision will determine whether Nandini milk prices change, the size of any increase and how the additional revenue is distributed between milk producers, cooperative societies and milk unions.

Dynamic Leader News Desk

Prathiban DC