Dairy farmers in dire state due to soaring feed prices

Staff Reporter :
The price of cattle feed has been skyrocketing in last few months putting entrepreneurs in the dairy sector in a dire state.

As the grazing land have flooded across the country due to the heavy rains and upstream water during the monsoon, the crisis has further intensified creating immense hurdles to the dairy farmers in the country.

Dairy farmers said in the rainy season meadowland “Bathanbhumi” submerged in rainwater which is natural but they blamed the price hike of feed producing companies and importers creating an artificial crisis in this season because we have no such alternative options in hand.

However, dairy feed prices have also shot up as the price of raw materials for dairy feed has increased in local and international markets, coupled with disruption in import of raw materials due to the lockdown, businessmen said.

Visiting the cattle feed market, it is seen that wheat husks were sold at Tk 30-32 per kg and thin husks at Tk 34-35 in earlier , now the thick husks are selling at Tk 55-60 and thin husks at Tk 60-70 per kg. Sesame seeds are being sold at Tk 64-65 per kg, which was earlier selling at Tk 40-42.

Prices of maize, rice flour and mustard oil Cake have almost doubled. In the market, maize powder of Tk 20-25 is now Tk 40-45, rice husk of Tk 20-21 is selling at Tk 35-40, mashkalai husk has increased from Tk 30-35 to Tk 45-50, husk of Tk 30-35 kg is being sold at Tk 45-50. Mix-feed of 25 kg bags has increased from Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,100-1,200.

The price of improved quality feed has also increased from Tk 1,000 per sack and is being sold at around Tk 1,500.

Apart from this, the price of straw is being sold at a higher price of Tk 250 to Tk 300 per thousand bundles comparing to the last June.

Farmers said that the milk processing companies are the main source of trust for farmers. But these firms are not giving the right price of milk.

Although the price has increased slightly, these companies have also reduced the purchase of milk from farmers on the pretext of reduced demand.

They claim that the price of cow feed has doubled and the production cost of milk has soaring to Tk 70 per liter. But the milk processing companies are giving maximum price of Tk50 per liter of milk.

The owner of Adnan Dairy Farm, Abdul Awal, in Dakshinpara , Bera Upazila, Pabna said his firm consist of 11 cows. Of them, five cows are producing milk.

Abdul Awal, said that he spends Tk 500 per day on food for each cow. Average daily milk yield from each cow is six to seven liters. They are selling milk at Tk 45 to Tk 50 per liter. As aresult, he is not able to take the daily expenses.

Maklesur Rahman, President of Patgari Dairy Association said,due to rising cost of production and not getting the desired price from Milk Vita, milk is now being sold more at individual level.

Due to heavy rains, the cow grazing land has been submerged in water. As a result, there is no place for cows to graze, so farmers now have to rely on market to feed these cattle.
Traders take this as an opportunity. The price of cattle fodder, especially the price of hay, has also doubled. As a result, farmers are in great distress.

Ishwardi Upazila Livestock Officer Dr. Nazmul Hossain said, Dairy farmers should plant high-quality grass to meet the demand of cattle fodder. This will reduce the cost of feed. Besides, grass is very beneficial for cattle’s health.

It will be very difficult for the farmers who depend only on cow feed like husk, chaff and hay to make a profit by cattle farming, he added.