Fodder crisis forcing Jashore farmers to sell cattle

JASHORE, Oct 04 (UNB) : Nothing seems to be going right for the cattle farmers of Jashore'sKeshabpurupazila.

With river dredging rendering the upazila's soil unsuitable for growing paddy, most cattle farmers in the area have started selling their livestock for a paltry amount as it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to find fodder.

Moreover, whatever straw they had stockpiled for their livestock got soaked in the recent monsoon rains. Also the costly paddy husk, wheat bran and mustard husk used as major feed grains for cattle are adding to their woes.

Babu, a local farmer, said, "It is becoming increasingly impossible for us to rear cattle due to the straw crisis. Many people are taking advantage of the crises and selling straw at high prices. Over a month, the prices have been doubled. " "Even the prices of dry food for cattle, including paddy husk, wheat bran and mustard husk for cattle have gone up. We are really struggling to survive. We hope the straw prices will come down in the Bengali months of Kartik and Agrahayon," he added. Paddy husks are being sold in Keshabpur atTk 550-600 per sack (weighing 50 kg each) , wheat bran at Tk 1600 per sack (weighing 50 kg each) and mustard husk at Tk 200 per sack (weighing 25 kg), a substantial rise from the earlier Tk 450, Tk 1,500 and Tk 100 per sacks, respectively.