Amid growing frustration over shrinking incomes and mounting losses, dairy farmers staged a dramatic protest outside the district administrative complex earlier this week, pouring milk on the roads to draw attention to what they described as the unchecked spread of spurious milk and milk products across Punjab.
The protest reflected a deep anguish that has been simmering for years among dairy farmers, many of whom now believe that milk production is rapidly becoming an unviable occupation. Farmers alleged that fake milk, synthetic dairy products and adulterated khoya are flooding markets, leaving genuine producers unable to compete.
The crisis is also reflected in the state’s declining livestock population. According to the animal census report, since 2019 Punjab has witnessed a decline of 2.32 lakh cattle and 5.22 lakh buffaloes. Rural households once known for their rich tradition of producing ‘dudh’ and ‘gheo’ are increasingly moving away from rearing dairy animals.
“When pure milk and spurious milk are being sold at almost the same price, why would anyone continue doing the hard labour of feeding and maintaining animals?” asked Rajwant Singh, a dairy farmer who participated in the protest. He said that even in villages, families now prefer purchasing milk from shops rather than keeping cattle at home.
Another farmer, Kuljeet Singh, pointed to the rising cost of fodder, medicines and maintenance. “Keeping an animal at home costs much more than buying milk from the market. People may worry about quality, but economics often decides their choices,” he said.
The protest has also brought into focus concerns over public health. While the health department has initiated inspections and meetings with milk producers, many believe the issue extends far beyond routine enforcement.
“Every year quintals of spurious khoya and adulterated dairy products are seized, yet the problem persists,” said retired principal Jagtar Singh. He said that unless strict decisions are taken at higher levels, Punjab may continue losing its dairy farmers along with the trust in the purity of its milk.
