MUMBAI: The state is likely to face a milk shortage starting Monday as dairy farmers went on a strike on Sunday midnight. Officials said Mumbai may not be hit as it has a two-day buffer stock. Large players too said they were determined to keep up the supply to the city-a crucial market.The farmers, led by the Raju Shetti's Swabhimaani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS), are protesting the milk price drop and procurement reduction by co-operatives. They want higher prices for farmers and a Rs 5 per litre direct subsidy. The SSS has a strong base in milk-producing areas of western Maharashtra-Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur . Shetti is an MP from Hatkanangle near Kolhapur.Other farmers' organisations like All India Kisan Sabha and Bahujan Vikas Aghadi too have backed the protest."The BJP government does not understand issues of rural Maharashtra . We will block all the highways and will ensure not a single milk tanker is allowed," said Shetti, who broke away from the NDA citing their anti-farmer policies. A source said many dairies in Ahmednagar stopped milk collection on Sunday and were not likely to send out tankers on Monday.Undaunted, big dairies said they will continue to despatch milk. R S Sodhi, MD of Gujarat-based Amul, the largest dairy in India, said, "We are despatching the full quantity as usual and have taken the required action for smooth supply."Asked if that meant seeking police escort for its vehicles, Sodhi said he would do so if the need arose. "We stand by the milk farmers," he said.MD Dattatray Ghanekar of Gokul Dairy, headquartered in Kolhapur which is at the heart of the agitation, said, "We despatched the regular stock on Sunday under police escort. The stock will serve Mumbai till Tuesday. We will not collect milk from farmers on Monday so there may be a slight impact on Tuesday. But on Tuesday, we will resume collection and despatch 7.5 lakh litres."Kiran Kurundkar, principal secretary of the dairy development department, said, "We have asked all the co-operatives to continue to supply milk on Monday and in case they need police protection for their tankers, they should reach out to the local collector or SP for help. The government is taking positive steps for the farmers."Rajiv Jadhav, dairy development commissioner, said on Friday, all private dairies and milk producers met and decided to increase the procurement price by Rs 3 from July 21.

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