After Nandini in Karnataka, now there is a Milk war of Amul Vs Aavin in Tamil Nadu. Amul has planned to implant chilling and processing plants in Tamil Nadu with the help of its multi-state cooperative license. On this, Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote a letter and urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to direct Gujarat-based dairy giant Amul to desist from milk procurement from the milk s hed of state cooperative, Aavin, with immediate effect.
From the letter, it reveals that Amul is planning to procure milk through Farmer Producer Organisations and self-help groups from various districts of Tamil Nadu including Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupathur, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur.
As of now, Amul was only selling its products in Tamil Nadu through its outlets. Through his letter, CM Stalin wanted to raise the issues that will arise due to milk procurement by the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union (Amul) in the Tamil Nadu milk shed area.
“It has been a norm in India to let cooperatives thrive without infringing on each other’s milk-shed area. Such cross-procurement goes against the spirit of ‘Operation White Flood’ and will exacerbate problems for consumers given the prevailing milk shortage scenario in the country. This act of AMUL infringes on Aavin’s (TN Co-operative Milk Producers Federation) milk shed area which has been nurtured in true cooperative spirit over decades.
“In Tamil Nadu, like in other States with strong dairy cooperatives, a three-tier dairy cooperative system is functioning effectively since 1981 for the benefit of the rural milk producers and consumers.
“This move by AMUL will create unhealthy competition between cooperatives engaged in procuring and marketing milk and milk products.
Therefore, I request your urgent intervention to direct Amul to desist from milk procurement from the milk shed area of Aavin in Tamil Nadu with immediate effect,” the Chief Minister said.
Here are some people’s reactions to his letter!
