Gaon bandh creates fodder crisis

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, June 4

The call for ‘gaon bandh’ given by farmers' unions has become an ordeal for the dairy farmers and gaushala operators due to lack of the green fodder supply in the market.

According to the information, the fodder market of Ambala Cantonment has not received even a trolley of green or dry fodder since June 1 while on normal days, it used to get nearly 300-quintal green fodder and 250 to 300-quintal dry fodder. While the green fodder is sold at Rs 150 to 200 per quintal, the dry fodder fetches between Rs 350-400 per quintal.

Similarly, at Ambala City’s fodder market, the number has dropped gradually from 30 trolleys on May 31 to zero on Monday. On normal days, it also receives nearly 300-quintal green fodder.

Kamal Kaushik, secretary, Ram Bagh Gaushala, said: “The non-availability of green fodder has become a matter of concern for us. There are 800 cattle in the gaushala, of which 470 were sent by the Municipal Corporation. We require at least 120-quintal green fodder daily, but we are not getting even one quintal and are forced to feed the cattle with dry fodder and choker. If the strike continues, the coming days will be more difficult. The administration must make some arrangements for the cattle at the earliest.”

Hira, a small dairy farmer, said: “Nothing matches the green fodder feed for maintaining the health of the milch animals. The shortage has affected the milk production also.”

KK Malik, secretary of the market committee, Ambala Cantonment, said: “The fodder hasn’t arrived since June 1. The cattle at gaushalas are the worst affected.”

Dharmenderpal, secretary of the market committee, Ambala City, said: “The fodder arrival has decreased gradually. Farmers must understand that the shortage of fodder will affect the cattle badly.”

Meanwhile, Gurnam Singh Charuni, president, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni), said: “If dairy farmers and fodder traders are facing the shortage, they can talk to farmers’ unions and get a minimum support price for the green and dry fodder fixed so that the fodder supply can be resumed. The MSP for green fodder and dry fodder should be at least Rs 200 and Rs 600 per quintal, respectively.”

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