There would be sharp decline in cattle population, and the cattle wealth would shift from farmers to corporates, if the present ban continues, cautioned journalist and founder editor of People’s Archive of Rural India P. Sainath.
He was delivering the first V. Hanumantha Rao Memorial Lecture, organised by Press Club of Hyderabad as part of its 52nd Foundation Day celebrations, here on Sunday.
“Going by the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017, using cattle for dietary or trade purposes is difficult, as the onus is on the farmer to prove its ownership by going through a cumbersome process,” he said.
Explaining that cattle was central to a village economy, he said the ban would affect minorities, Dalits and adivasis in a major way. It has already brought the price down in the cattle market by 60%.
He felt that the population of stray cattle would increase significantly, like in Maharashtra, where farmers were unable to sell, buy or eat the old and infertile cattle. They leave their cattle in forest for the big cats.
“Cow slaughter ban will turn anti-cow as only few people will be willing to breed them,” he said.
Also, the declining population of cattle, particularly the indigenous species in the country, was because of the ‘obsession with the exotic breeds’, making the desi ones undesirable.
Indigenous breeds
The 19th Livestock Census- 2012 shows a decline of 9% in the indigenous breeds and an increase of 20% in the exotic/crossbred ones. The 20th Census slated for this year would reveal even more startling figures, he felt.
For his contribution to rural journalism, Mr. Sainath was presented a cheque for ₹50,000 and a memento on the occasion.
