January 16: Dairy farmers of Chitwan have postponed their protest programme after holding discussions with the government. The Chitwan District Milk Producers’ Cooperative Association held a phase-wise protest programme from January 10 to 16.

The association said that the farmers’ protest was postponed after the government called them for talks.

Kishore Bagale, chairman of the Chitwan District Milk Producers' Cooperative Association, said that they returned to Chitwan after talks with the government. “We are in a wait and watch situation. We are not assured if the government will fulfill the promises made with us. We will wait for some time and then resume protest if the government fails to fulfill its promises,'' said Bagale.

More than 40,000 dairy farmers of Chitwan say that they have not received payment for the milk they produced since August. They claimed that they are yet to receive payment of around Rs 220 million.

The farmers have reached a verbal agreement with the private sector dairy industries and the state-owned Dairy Development Corporation (DDC) to receive the payment within 15 days.

Chairman Bagale informed that more than 100 dairy cooperatives of Chitwan have not received payment for the milk they supplied to the private dairy industries and the DDC. Altogether 155 dairy cooperatives are registered with the District Administration Office, Chitwan. There are 112 cooperatives affiliated to the District Milk Cooperative Association. There are around 100 commercial dairy farms in the district.

Chitwan produces an average of 300,000 liters of milk daily. Around 150,000 liters of milk is supplied to 31 industries including the DDC. That means, more than half of the milk produced in Chitwan is sold outside the district.