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The price of cattle feed has increased several times in Phulbari of Dinajpur. The farmers are in trouble. Not being able to buy enough at high prices, they have reduced the food for cattle. Many farms have closed. Wheat husk, which was available for Tk 800 a mound six months ago, is now being bought forTk 1,700.
Bishu Sarkar of Chakchaka village, who is in charge of the farm, said, "Now there is no chance for the cows to escape. I bought wheat bran six months ago for Tk 800, now I have to buy it for Tk 1,700. Earlier I bought corn powder for Tk 1,200, now I have to buy it for Tk 1,900. The 40 kg mug husk used to be bought at Tk 1,300 but now it has to be bought at Tk 1,800. And the price of soybean is so high that we are not feeding it to the cows now.” That is why the farmers of this region keep their cattle by eating straw and granular food. However, as the market for granular food continues to rise, many are being forced to close their farms. Many are making the farm smaller by selling cows again.
Dharam Chand Gupta of Chakchaka village in Phulbari municipal town said he had eight small dairy cows on his family farm. He has already sold four cows due to the price of cow feed. Others have become harder to observe.
According to the Upazila Livestock Office, there are at least 2,325 small and large cattle farms in Fulbari Upazila. Of these, 23 are registered with the Livestock Department. Fulbari Upazila Dairy Farm Owners Association President. Zakaria said the farmers were in dire straits due to the sudden increase in the price of cattle feed. If such a situation continues, the farmers will have to sit on the road.
Upazila Livestock Officer Dr. Md. Rabiul Islam said, "We are working on how to keep the farmers alive. Therefore, farmers are being advised to cultivate improved varieties of grass. Apart from this, the government will also help the farmers in grass cultivation through a project. Besides, it is being suggested to make urea molasses for the farmers who are fattening cows for the next sacrifice.
|Source: Online/SZK
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