The Manapparai Milk Producers Cooperative Society, one of the largest societies in the district, has increased the milk price by ₹5 a litre.

The society has about 10,000 members in and around Manapparai. The society on an average procures 45,000 litres to 50,000 litres of milk from the members. Though the prevailing summer-like situation is said to have impacted the milk procurement to an extent, the society manages to ensure quality of milk. While most of its procurement is sent to the Tiruchi District Milk Producers’ Cooperative Ltd, which is popularly known as Tiruchi Aavin, the society prefers to sell the milk to consumers directly. It also sells milk to tea shops, hotels, hospitals, hostels, and marriage parties.

According to sources, the society supplies about 7,000 litres of milk both in the morning and evening to its customers in Manapparai. It has maintained a list of pre-paid customers, who paid monthly milk amount in advance. Taking into account the recent increase in procurement price by the State government, the society has increased the selling price from ₹50 to ₹55 a litre. It has come into effect from September 10. The prepaid customers have been asked to pay the additional amount. The increase has not gone down well among the customers.

“The State government is yet to increase the selling price of Aavin milk. However, the society has increased the selling price on its own. It is not correct,” says M. Subramanian, a consumer in Manapparai.

However, sources said the societies, which were started in 1950s and 1960s, were at liberty to supply milk to Aavin after meeting the local needs. The Manapparai society supplied milk to Aavin after supplying milk to its customers directly through vendors. The society had to pay higher prices for the milk being sold directly to customers. Hence, the price increase had been effected.