Pricey fodder a concern for northern dairy industry

BOGURA, Dec 11: Dairy farm owners in the northern region, especially in Sirajganj, Pabna and Bogura districts, are now facing trouble due to surging prices of fodder.
Farmers attributed the Russia-Ukraine war to the scarce supply of raw materials that hits fodder production in the country.
It is apprehended that many daily farms in the region may be closed immediately if the prevailing fodder crisis caused by its soaring prices continues.
Sirajganj, Pabna and Bogura districts are prominent in the region's dairy industry.
A huge supply of processed milk goes to Dhaka and different other places from Milk Vita, one of the largest pasteurised milk processing units of the country, located at Baghabari in Shahjadpur upazila of Sirajganj district.
The largest plant of Milk Vita was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Captain M Monsur Ali on February 1, 1975.
But, the region's dairy industry in now in dire straits due to the abnormal price hike of cattle feed caused by unavailability of the raw materials centring the Russia-Ukraine war. Consequently, the farmers are counting heavy losses.
According to the local Livestock Department Office, there are about 1.0 million cattle in 13,400 dairy farms of Sirajganj.
Of them, around 14,000 are bulls and they will be fattened for sale during the next Eid-ul-Azha.
Besides, there are over 1.0 million cattle in the farms of Pabna and Bogura districts.
Under this circumstance, a huge quantity of cattle feed is needed here daily.
But, most of the farm owners cannot purchase fodder especially mustard cake (Khail), husk and straw due to their escalating prices.
During a visit to different areas in the region, this correspondent found that grass is being provided to the cattle instead of grain feeds.
Apparently, the farmers are facing problem in growing and rearing their cattle.
Abdul Gafur, owner of a dairy farm at Potazia village in Shahjadpur upazila, said, "I have a dairy farm, where there are about 200 cows. The milk of my farm is supplied to Milk Vita. But, milk production has now dropped due to fodder crisis. I can't purchase sufficient amount of fodder from market for high prices. Now I am thinking to change my profession to get rid of the clutches of price hike."
During a visit to different markets, this correspondent came to know that feed traders are involved in realising additional prices from the farm owners on different pretexts.
Feed processing companies and traders' syndicate are blamed for such situation.
Insiders said a 37-kg sack of wheat husk is now being sold at Tk1,650 while it was sold at Tk1,300 a few months ago.
Similarly, a 40-kg sack of paddy husk is now being sold at between Tk500 and Tk 550 against the price of Tk 250 a few months ago.
A 74-kg sack of oilcake is now being sold at between Tk 3,200 and Tk 3,500 against the previous price of Tk2,800.
Prices of other fodder items including straw and high quality grasses have increased three times.
Nozir Ali, a farm owner of Sonatola village in Bogura district, said, "Milk production at my farm has decreased nowadays as I can't provide necessary feeds to my cattle. On the other hand, the price of milk has remained same like two years back."
Bachchu Sheikh, a farmer of Bera in Pabna district said, "Running dairy farms has now become difficult due to soaring prices of cattle feed. Now, we have no way to survive without closing the farms."
Habibur Rahman, district livestock officer (DLO/additional charge) in Sirajganj, said, "We are advising the farm owners to feed raw grasses to their cattle instead of grain feeds. Besides, we are monitoring the market prices in which no feed trader syndicate can amass money from the cattle farmers by illegal means."

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