Cattle farm in Sirugamani- Shortage of green fodder |
‘The present drought condition hits
dairy farmers too in Trichirappalli District’ said K.Devendran, a farmer in
Sirugamani.He further said, “ We have small cattle farm in Sirugamani in
Srirangam Taluk of Trichirappalli District of Tamilnadu with 28 cross breed milking
cows and their calves, 30 cross breed goats. We supply milk to Aavin, an outfit
of Tamilnadu Government. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamilnadu is kind enough
to announce various welfare schemes for the benefit of poor and farming community.
Hon’ble Chief Minister also made announcements for promotion significant
schemes that support Cattle rearing Sector. 2013 is a year worst affected by
drought and Trichirappalli District is also affected by drought. The green
fodder cultivation needs water, thus the cultivation of green fodder is an
important cultivation to feed the cows and goats and now the green fodder
cultivation was affected by drought. The cost of concentrated cow feed also had
become very expensive. We supply around 9000 liters of milk to Government owned
cooperative Federation, Aavin. Sharp hike in feed prices for the past few
months has left us high and dry. Government may consider providing cow farmers
the subsided cattle feed and promote fodder banks in the required Blocks for the benefit of
milk production and also increase the cattle population. It will be also
helpful to increase Rs.5 per litre of milk from the existing procurement cost.
It is very much appreciated that Government of Tamilnadu provides free electricity
to farmers, and such provision of electricity at free of cost for cattle farm,which
will also benefit the cow farmers like us. Because of the increase in
prices of cattle feed ,we are forced to reduce the amount of feed that is fed
to the cattle which in turn affects quantity of milk produced. On an average,
the input cost which includes concentrated cattle feed,
filling material and veterinary expenses during lactation, incurred by us to
get one litre of milk works out to be nearly Rs 20 per litre. If the labour
charges are also included, the cost is unsustainable. My
humble submission is that Animal husbandry department officials should look
into the plight of the dairy farmers and present their field report to the
Government so that Honble Chief Minister of Tamilnadu will consider the
aspirations of dairy farmers like us”
Govin
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