Farmers say - 'Government-owned DDC and private dairies did not pay as per the agreement'
The dairy farmers, who have been protesting demanding immediate payment of the milk they sold, are already satisfied with the loan agreement. After the agitation, the government and private dairies made an agreement to pay the outstanding dues, but the farmers have only received assurances. The latest example is the agreement between the Government-Private Sector and the Central Dairy Cooperative Association dated 18 August 2082.
The union had announced a program of agitation since August 19, 2082, saying that the farmers were not getting money for milk. Then on August 18, a discussion was held between the Dairy Development Institute (DDC), Dairy Industry Association and Nepal Dairy Association at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Six points were agreed upon in the discussion chaired by Agriculture Joint Secretary Pashupati Dhungana.
2082 It was agreed to pay the remaining arrears up to the end of June 2082 by 5th October 2082, to pay the arrears up to the end of July on 30th October, and to pay the remaining amount up to the end of August 2082 by the end of October 2082. After that, it was agreed that regular payments would be made. But the agreement is limited only on paper.
'Some dairies paid little but many did not, farmers were cheated every time. Along with the private dairies, even the government-owned DDC did not pay," said Ram Prasad Acharya, general secretary of the Central Dairy Cooperative Association. The payment was not seen until the government put pressure.'
Acharya says that DDC's arrears are pending since January-February. After signing an agreement with the government and private dairies, the Central Dairy Cooperative Union held a press conference with the industrialists together. They say that the purpose of the press conference is to make the industrialists responsible, but the farmers have been cheated. "We also held a press conference that they accept their responsibilities and obligations, but they have not yet fulfilled the agreement, we have been cheated like in the past," said General Secretary Acharya.
During the press conference, Chairman of the Dairy Association, Prahlad Dahal, said that even if the farmers did not protest, they were in favor of paying the arrears since Dasain had come. Some industrialists may have arrears. But not all industrialists. There is some delay in payment due to cycle breakdown. Although the money has not been stopped,' he said, 'We will pay the money even if the farmers do not protest because of Dasain.' He said that everyone should pay the arrears immediately. But the statement of the person in charge of the union was not implemented. All the farmers did not get the arrears till the end of June 2082 within 5 October.
'Even though some of them encouraged to pay, they also made a reason for the Gen-G movement. Some industrialists have said that the time is not enough," Amar Kunwar, president of the Central Dairy Cooperative Association said, "Even though a small amount of payment has been made from some districts, not all has been done. Even this time, the agreement could not be implemented. Even if they cannot pay everything, if they pay the arrears till the end of June, the farmers will get some relief during Dasain. Regarding the payment of arrears, there was an agreement between cooperatives, private dairies, DDC and the Ministry of Agriculture.
2080 On November 26, under the leadership of then Agriculture Joint Secretary Surya Paudel, it was agreed to pay the farmers immediately in the Dairy Development Board. At that time, according to the agreement reached between the Dairy Development Board, Dairy Development Institute, Dairy Industry and Farmers, it was agreed to make maximum payment within January, full payment in January and every 15-15 days from February.
2080 It was agreed again on February 19 in the presence of then Agriculture Minister Beduram Bhusal. It was agreed that the dairy industry would make the payment till the end of December 2080 by Chait 21 and the farmers would withdraw their agitation. However, the farmer was also deceived.
On June 16, 2081, the government also reached an agreement with farmers' representatives. According to this, the dairy industry should have paid the amount due by March 2080 by June 27, 2081. It is said that the payment for Baisakh and May will be made by the middle of August.
It was mentioned in the agreement that every dairy industry will pay the farmers in two installments every month for the purchase of milk, the payment for the first 15 days of the month will be made by the 25th of the same month and the payment for the last 15 days of the month will be made by the 10th of the next month. But the implementation never happened. The latest agreement was reached on August 18, 2082. But the farmer did not get it.
Rajkumar Dahal, president of the Dairy Industry Association, said that there was a problem when the market was closed for 3/4 days due to the Gen-G movement. However, he claims that all industries are paying as much as possible. This time there was some problem due to the market closure, but it is not like in the past, everyone has paid some amount,” he said.
Acting General Manager of DDC Sanjeev Jha also claimed that the arrears have decreased recently. He said that 7/8 crore was paid only a few days ago. It is estimated that the payment is now about 85 crores. We are paying the dues to the farmers," he said.
