PONDA: Around 25 Bicholim farmers on Monday marched to Igloo Dairy at Kundaim Industrial Estate to protest Surat District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited (Sumul) refusal to purchase around 4000 litres of milk citing substandard quality.
On receiving information about the protest, Ponda Police rushed to the Surat District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited ’s Kundaim plant to maintain law and order. The farmers demanded compensation for the sudden rejection of milk.
The farmers tried to pour the milk brought by them in front of Surat District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Limited Plant at Kundaim, however, the police prevented them from doing so.
A farmer Meghsham Raut alleged that Sumul has not paid them bonus and provides lame excuses to hold their payment. Today, they bought a new milk testing machine and rejected the milk by claiming that the same was not according to standards.
The Sumul officials tried to pacify the farmers and assured to put their demand before the higher authorities. A meeting between Sumul officials and the farmers has been convened on July 17 wherein the issue would be discussed.
