The recent Rs 4 per litre hike in milk rates by MYMUL is set to make coffee and tea pricier in Mysuru’s eateries, with a 5% increase expected next month. Managing Director K N Suresh Nayak clarified that the entire price rise will directly benefit dairy farmers, attributing the move to soaring feed expenses and labor charges.

Cattle farmer H N Nanjappa noted that the cost of livestock feed has escalated by 30%, significantly affecting earnings. He emphasized that for dairy farming to remain economically sustainable, milk unions must ensure the additional payment reaches farmers without deductions.

The hospitality sector is feeling the pinch too. C Narayangowda, President of the Mysore Hotel Owners’ Association, explained that hotels rely heavily on Nandini milk due to its superior taste and purity. With rising operational expenses, including higher electricity tariffs and ingredient costs, hotels are reluctantly adjusting beverage prices to avoid losses.

For consumers, the impact is unavoidable. Many middle-class households operate on tight budgets, making milk and dairy essentials a necessary but costly purchase. Prabha, a homemaker, expressed concern that while state schemes like Gruha Lakshmi provide financial relief, families may now have to allocate part of those funds to cover daily milk expenses.