Farmers in Sabarkantha and Aravalli districts have been protesting against Sabar Dairy for several days. They demanded a higher price for milk. In response, Sabar Dairy has made a significant announcement regarding the milk price. On July 18, 2025, they declared that farmers will now receive ₹995 per kilo of fat in milk. Previously, the price was ₹990. This increase of ₹5 comes after persistent protests from farmers. Earlier, farmers had been paid an advance of ₹960 for the price increase. The remaining ₹35 will be paid after a general assembly meeting. This decision marks a victory for the protesting farmers.
A crucial meeting of the board of directors at Sabar Dairy took place, where the chairman, vice-chairman, and other members discussed the price increase. The board decided to address the farmers’ concerns. Sabar Dairy has an annual turnover of ₹9,500 crore, and the protests sparked tensions between farmers and the police. Unfortunately, one young man died under suspicious circumstances during the protests. Despite announcing the previous year’s price increase, the farmers continued to voice their concerns.
Out of 400 cooperatives in the region, farmers had refused to supply milk to Sabar Dairy, leading to a drop in milk intake. This decrease forced Sabar Dairy to halt powder production temporarily. In fact, Sabar Dairy reported a reduction of 1.5 lakh litres in daily milk intake. In many cooperatives in Aravalli district, farmers also boycotted milk supply for the third consecutive day. Protests were held in places like Isrol and Ambaliya, where farmers expressed their anger towards the chairman.
The protests intensified when farmers clashed with police, resulting in the police using batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. In total, 74 individuals, including former MLA Jashu Patel, were named in an FIR filed by the police. The police arrested 47 people during the protests. The situation escalated as farmers accused the dairy management of cheating them by offering low prices. They demanded transparency and fair treatment.
Farmers have taken solidarity actions, including distributing milk for free to poor families in rural areas. Instead of pouring milk away, they have been providing needy families with between 500 grams to 2 litres of milk. This act of kindness showcases the farmers’ community spirit despite the ongoing conflict with Sabar Dairy.
In the Himatnagar zone, members from about 60 cooperatives met with the directors to demand a fair increase in milk prices. They stated they would not supply milk until their demands were met, insisting on the release of innocent farmers who were arrested during the protests. The directors promised to find a satisfactory solution to the price increase issue.
The protests and the subsequent negotiations highlight the ongoing struggle between dairy farmers and large dairy cooperatives like Sabar Dairy. Farmers are standing up for their rights to receive fair compensation for their hard work, while dairy management must address these concerns to avoid further unrest. It remains to be seen how the situation will evolve in the coming weeks as both sides seek a resolution.