Despite being declared as an essential commodity, the lockdown across the state has affected the dairy manufacturers as well as those producing packaging material. While daily manufacturers have had to stop production of milk products due to a severe shortage of labour, plastic manufacturers are not able to procure raw materials due to transportation issues.

Prakash Kutwal, secretary of the Milk Producers and Processors' Welfare Federation said that while collection of milk has not been affected, sale of milk has dropped significantly since 80 per cent of the labourers needed in the factories are not showing up to work. "Production of milk products have completely stopped. Currently, we are only selling milk pouches and the sale has been affected since the local police are shutting down shops that sell milk. Even though milk is an essential commodity, the drivers who transport the milk are often stopped by the police," said Kutwal.