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Absence of market affects dairy farmers
MAHENDRANAGAR, DEC 26 - Dairy farmers in Dodhara and Chandani, the two VDCs across the Mahakali river, are compelled to sell milk in minimal price as result of scarcity of market.
The farmers are compelled to sell their produce for cheap as it is not consumed locally and neither there is any other alternative management for it.
Apart from their own daily consumption, the farmers have been producing 3,500 to 4,000 litres of milk everyday but as a result of lack of market they have been selling it to Indian buyers at a very cheap rate.
"A litre of mineral water in Banbasa costs Rs 10 IC and the farmers here are selling their milk produce in the same market for Rs 8 IC per litre, says Bel Bahadur Rana, former president of Dodhara VDC. What could be more embarrassing than this for the farmers, he queries.
However, farmers in the neighbouring Mahendranagar, the district headquarters of Kanchanpur, have been getting Rs 20 for their milk that too mixed with water.
But the Mahakali river separating the two VDCs from Mahendranagar has been depriving the farmers of their right price.
Taking over the issue, a joint gathering of farmers’ group, concerning organisations and intellectuals had been organised here last week. The gathering had decided to urge the concerned body—the Livestock Development Office in Kanchanpur to resolve the problem.
The gathering also decided to demand His Majesty’s
Government to establish a small dairy plant in the area so as to provide some relief to
the farmers who have been facing a daily loss of around
Rs. 30 to 40,000, said a
farmer who took part in the gathering.
The District Livestock Development Office has also accepted the problems faced by farmers in the two VDCs.
"Farmers there who have been producing a large quantity of milk have become discouraged after not getting a just price for their produce", says Dr Pan Singh Thagunna, chief of the office.
Instead of looking out for ways to increase their production the farmers there have been trying to bring down their production, adds Thagunna.
"We have already conveyed the grievances of the people of Dhodhara and Chandani to the concerned body as the problem cannot be resolved at the local level", he said.
The Dairy Development Corporation, who has so far not set its foot in the far-western
region could do a great deal
of good for the farmers of Dhodhara, Chandani and other VDCs if it could establish a dairy plant in Kanchanpur district, says dairy businessman, Harish Chand.Posted on: 2003-12-27 04:36
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