Hundreds of dairy farmers staged a rally in Karimnagar on Monday, protesting the alleged transfer of Karimnagar Dairy’s land records from the Dharani portal to the Telangana State Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (TSDDCF) under the newly introduced Bhu Bharati portal.
The protestors marched from Karimnagar Dairy to the Collectorate, demanding that the government intervene to protect the dairy and restore the land records in its name. The rally was led by Karimnagar Dairy chairman Dr. Chelmada Rajeshwara Rao and saw participation from a large number of dairy farmers.
Farmers also demanded the release of the ₹4 per litre milk incentive, which they said has been pending since 2018. In addition, they called for the provision of two dairy cattle to each farmer at a 50% subsidy to strengthen dairy farming and support rural livelihoods.
Following the rally, dairy representatives submitted a memorandum to the district Collector. They urged the government to ensure that Karimnagar Dairy continues to support the farmers who depend on the institution for their livelihoods.
Farmers Raise Concerns Over Land Records
Karimnagar Dairy chairman Rajeshwara Rao alleged that the dairy’s land records were transferred from Dharani to the Federation’s name on Bhu Bharati without prior notice to the dairy management.
He claimed that the dairy received notices on August 3 asking it to vacate the premises. The development has raised concerns among farmers, many of whom depend on the dairy for milk procurement and other services.
Rajeshwara Rao also said that Karimnagar Dairy has been supplying ghee to temples and milk to government schools. He alleged that some of its supply orders were cancelled and subsequently awarded to the Federation, despite Karimnagar Dairy reportedly submitting a higher quotation.
Farmers Seek Better Milk Prices and Government Support
The protesting farmers appealed to the Telangana government to increase support for the dairy sector and ensure that Karimnagar Dairy’s milk is used in government schools.
They also demanded better milk procurement prices, arguing that stronger institutional support would help protect the livelihoods of dairy-farming families in the region. The protesters said nearly one lakh families could be affected if the dairy’s operations are disrupted.
Farmers also questioned the alleged silence of Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on the matter, saying the lack of a response had created concern among the dairy community.
Collector Assures Meeting on August 22
According to Rajeshwara Rao, the district Collector responded positively to the memorandum and assured the dairy representatives that a meeting would be convened on August 22 to discuss the issue.
The Collector also reportedly assured them that the memorandum would be forwarded to the Telangana government.
Rajeshwara Rao reiterated that Karimnagar Milk Producers Cooperative Society Limited (KMPCSL) belongs to dairy farmers and has no political affiliation. He said farmers would decide their next course of action based on the outcome of the proposed meeting.
The dispute now places the focus on the government’s response to the land-record issue, pending milk incentives and the future role of Karimnagar Dairy in supporting dairy farmers across the region.
