Farmers and dairy businesses are concerned about the sharp increase in feed prices

Farmers and dairy business owners have issued warnings about an impending sharp increase in the cost of "toori" (cattle feed), which could drive up the cost of milk and related goods. According to them, the prices of feed would also have an effect on rural poor and marginal farmers who depend on livestock for their livelihood.

A sizable share of the rural population in villages in Doaba and other parts of the state is made up of marginal farmers and laborers.

"The twin crisis created by the LSD last year and the expected shortage of fodder this year has made the dairy business unsustainable for many," said Dheeraj Bajaj, general secretary of Govind Gau Dhaam Gaushala, Kapurthala, which has over 1,000 heads of cattle. Due to the high expense of feeding cattle at the current levels of fodder prices, marginal farmers are giving up dairy products.

He stated, "Our gaushala allocated Rs 21 lakh for feed last year. It has already risen dramatically this year to Rs 31 lakh. The cost of fodder for each trolley is anticipated to increase to Rs 10,000. These usually cost between Rs 5,000 and 6,000. Prior to this, the cost of a quintal of fodder in Kapurthala was between Rs. 400 and Rs. 500.

Punjab was renowned as the country of milk and butter because of its quality of it, according to Harminder Singh, a farmer from the Kapurthala neighborhood of Bhawanipur. However, the agricultural damage may make the dairy industry unprofitable for small farmers and workers.

"A few days ago, the agriculture minister had stated at a meeting that fodder from the state will not be routed to cardboard manufacturing factories and industrial units," said Jaswant Singh, the Chief Agricultural Officer of Jalandhar. There is undoubtedly damage to the wheat crop, which will impact the supply of feed as well. To help farmers, every measure is being done.

Source:- tribuneindia.com