PONDA: Living up to his promise made to the dairy farmers who are on an indefinite hunger strike, Goa Dairy Chairman Rajesh Faldesai convened a meeting of the Board of Directors to discuss the demand of the farmers to roll back the Rs 2.50 hike on cattle-feed.
After a three-hour long board meeting, the Board of Directors refused to roll back the hike even though the Chairman Faldesai favoured to meet the demand of the farmers.
Following the refusal of the Goa Dairy to roll back the hike on cattle-feed price, the farmers who had temporarily suspended their agitation on Saturday, warned that they would now resort to some strong action to force the Goa Dairy to meet their demands.
Contrite that he could not honour his promise made to the farmers, Faldesai told the farmers that he was ready to resign as Goa Dairy chairman. However, farmers’ leader Durgadas Savordekar and Vikas Prabu requested him not to resign as it would not help them in any way.
Giving reasons for rejecting the demand of the farmers, the Board of Directors said that the cattle feed rates in Goa and other states are same; it is sold at Rs 19 per kg. Hence, it would not be possible to lower the rates. Lowering price of cattle-feed would result in loss to the Dairy. Further, if the prices are rolled back by Rs 2.50, then Goa Dairy farmers would suffer a loss of Rs 22.50 lakh per month.
