New Delhi, Jan. 24 -- India's cooperative dairies are challenging private companies support for imported skimmed milk powder (SMP) as domestic supply thins because of weddings and fall in production.
Private companies support bulk consumers, like ice cream manufacturers and confectioners, in allowing 50,000 tonnes SMP to be imported at "zero" duty, but cooperatives protest such a proposal by saying it will hurt farmers.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has proposed that the government import SMP, which is trading between Rs 310 and Rs 320 a kg. Prices jumped by 15 per cent in the last one month and have doubled in a year.
"The SMP price is hovering at the peak. Hence, there is no room for its price rise further. Any price rise ...