Govt urged not to cut tariff on milk powder import

Dairy farm owners yesterday called on the government not to reduce import duty on milk powder, saying that such a move would affect the local dairy farms badly.
They said the buyers have told them that the price of milk would have to be reduced by 5 to 7 per litre, as the government has lowered the tariff on powdered milk import in the proposed national budget.
Leaders of the Greater Pabna District Small Dairy Farm Owners Association made the call at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium yesterday.
“The production cost of one litre of milk is Tk 20 to 22 and we sell it for Tk 30, with a profit of Tk 8 to 10. Now, the milk purchasing companies have told us that they would pay Tk 5 to 7 less than the current price. If it happens, we will incur a huge loss,” said association president ABM Nurunnabi Saimum.
He demanded that the tariff on powdered milk import remain the same as before.
He also said the dairy farm owners will launch a movement if their demand goes unheeded.
Nurunnabi also demanded stimulus package for small dairy farm owners to help the dairy industry flourish.
General Secretary of the association Rezaul Karim was also present at the press conference.