Any move to increase milk price brings adverse reaction from the public, but the rise in cattle feed price goes unnoticed. The burden on the average dairy farmer has become heavier owing to the recent hike in the feed price. Many among them might be forced to leave the sector if the trend continues.
Cattle feed price up
The price of cattle feed has gone up by Re.1 per kg within a month.
The market leader in the private segment had increased the price and the result could be disastrous to the dairy farmer, says Gino G. Maliayakal, a dairy farmer and general secretary of Kerala Aggressive Dairy Farmers’ Association.
The rise in the cattle feed price is often attributed to a corresponding hike in the input costs. Maize is a raw material for the feed, but several manufacturers use other products.
The waste organic matter generated in the production process in distilleries finds its way to the feed-manufacturing units.
The material is mixed with other ingredients to make cattle feed, according to him.
In fact, the refuse from breweries and distilleries are available in the wholesale market and are utilised for preparing cattle feed by small scale dairy farmers. Calcium, protein and glucose are added to get a mixture suitable for consumption by the cattle.
Though a few units make cattle feed in the cooperative and public sectors, the private sector dominates the market.
The product of the market leader in Kerala has higher content of urea which gives better yield, but it harms the cattle in the long run.
“Production of milk could go up, but prolonged use could result in reduced lifespan of the cattle. It could also affect the reproductive cycle of the cattle,” he says.
An increase in milk price may not be the ideal solution to the recurring hike in feed prices.
Extend subsidy
The subsidy currently available to farmers in the cooperative society set-up under Milma could be extended to farmers outside its purview.
Clusters of farmers could be extended sops as to enable the individual farmer stand on his legs.
Such a system could be apolitical unlike Milma which has a governing body elected on political lines, according to him.
