Over 1,200 milch cowsdie in four districts

Onam season milk procurement down by 12 lakh litres

Milk sales during the past Onam season was nearly 41 lakh litres. This year, it came down to about 32 lakh litres.

By a rough reckoning, over 1,200 dairy cows perished in the floodwaters in Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kottayam districts. This, coupled with the animals that contracted diseases and those that could not be milked owing to the floods, brought down the Onam season’s milk procurement in the region by about 1 lakh litres a day and to a total of 12 lakh litres over the 10 days when the crisis prevailed.

Ernakulam alone saw the death of 573 milch animals and 256 calves while Thrissur dairy farmers lost 450 milch animals and 151 calves, said P.A. Balan, chairman of the Ernakulam Regional Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union.

Ernakulam and Thrissur saw the highest losses owing to flooding in vast areas. Mala, Meloor and Chalakudy in Thrissur; and Kunnukara and Kottayilkovilam, near North Paravur in Ernakulam district saw heavy losses. Kunnukara saw the death of upto 40 milch cows while Kottayil Kovilakam accounted for more than 50 milch cows.

Many of the dairy farmers did not get time or forgot to let loose the animals while they escaped from the rising waters in a hurry, Mr. Balan said.

The continuous rain and flooding of dairy farms across the region saw Onam season procurement of milk come down by about 12 lakh litres.

The numbers are calculated for the 10 days of Onam celebrations during which there is a peak in the demand for milk and milk products like curd. During the past Onam season, milk procurement stood at over 30 lakh litres, while this year’s season saw procurement come down to a little over 18 lakh litres.

The death of animals and the cancellation of Onam celebrations across Kerala were reflected in the season’s sale too. Milk sales during the past Onam season was nearly 41 lakh litres.

This year, the numbers came down to about 32 lakh litres.

The dip in sale of milk is by nearly nine lakh litres while curd and yogurt sales came down by nearly 60,000 litres.

Besides, Ernakulam Regional Cooperative Milk Producers Union (ERCMPU) lost about 75,000 litres of milk as transport operations came to a standstill in different parts of the State for about five days during the heavy flooding. Five tankers of 50,000-litre capacity each were held up in Idukki during the height of the crisis. Besides, milk procurement centres had stocks which could not be taken to processing plants, Mr. Balan added.

The heavy rain and flooding have resulted in widespread diseases among the animals that have survived, he said.

Meanwhile, the union plans to provide ₹25 lakh worth of hay as feed to the four districts. It has also planned to spend ₹1 crore as compensation to the farmers who have lost milch animals.