Fodder crisis hits cattle farming

An unusual price hike of fodders, especially hay, has made it difficult for cattle farmers in different districts under Rangpur region to feed their animals.

The situation in Kurigram and Lalmonirhat districts are worse than the other districts as most of the cattle grazing fields are either completely damaged or submerged under flood water.

Moreover, farmers living in riverside villages and char areas are the worst sufferers.

Besides, farmers have to rely on hay due to hike of various types of fodders, like oil cake and husk, in the local markets.

Farmers said hay was selling for Tk 7 to Tk 8 per kg only a month ago, but currently they are purchasing each kg of hay at Tk 10 to Tk 12.

Usually, each cattle consume about three to five kg of hay every day, they said.

Farmer Akbar Hossain of Char Begumganj village in Kurigram's Ulipur upazila, who owns seven cows, said he manged to stock nearly 10,000 kgs of hay to feed his cows at this time of the year, but unfortunately about 3,000 kgs of the green fodder have been completely damaged during the recent flood.

Cattle rearing has become very difficult for farmers as not only hay, prices of other fodders like oil cake and rice bran has also gone up in the local markets, Akbar added.

Ashraf Ali, a farmer at Char Kalmati village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, said last week he was compelled to sell two out of his eight cows at a low price as he cannot afford to buy fodders for all his cattle due to increased fodder prices.

The current situation is likely to continue till harvest of Aman paddy begins in a month or so, the farmer further said.

Noor Islam, a hay trader at Jatrapur Haat in Kurigram Sadar upazila, said they are buying hay from different areas for Tk 8 to Tk 10 per kg and selling each kg at Tk 10 to Tk 12.

Hay price will drop to Tk 5 to Tk 6 per kg once harvesting of Aman paddy starts, Noor said.

According to Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), usually farmers get 10 to 12kg of straw from each decimal of land, while about 35 to 40 lakh tonnes of hay is produced in five districts under Rangpur region.

Contacted, officials at Department of Livestock said there are about 42 lakhs cattle in five districts of Rangpur region and of those around 15 to 16 lakhs are at char areas.