January 11: Dairy farmers of Chitwan have demanded timely payment for milk from the relevant agencies. Organizing a press conference in Bharatpur on Wednesday, the dairy farmers warned that they would have to abandon the dairy business if they do not get their due payment. They also put five different demands before the agencies concerned.    
The demands include concessional loans, insurance facility and facilitation of milk production-based subsidies given by the Bagmati provincial government among others.    
On the occasion, President of Chitwan District Milk Producers' Cooperative Association, Kishore Bagaa, lamented that the concerned agencies remain apathetic towards solving the problems of the dairy farmers in Chitwan. He also cited problems in the marketing of milk and dairy products.    
The problem is getting more complicated due to the delay in payment to the dairy farmers.    
The dairy sector was moving towards self-sufficiency but the state policy has not been encouraging to the dairy farmers, said the association’s Secretary, Kalyan Adhikari. -- RSS