Across Southern Karnataka districts of Ramanagara, Tumakuru, Kolar, and Hassan, the place dairy farming has offered a supply of livelihood and supplemented revenue over the many years, farmers at the moment are feeling the warmth of value rise.
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If Nanje Gowda, a farmer at Kirugavulu in Mandya district, has offered off all three cows and stopped dairy farming within the final two years, his pals Nanjunde Gowda and Nage Gowda have decreased the variety of cows because the rising price of feed and fodder, coupled with an unattractive remuneration, has hit the dairy business arduous.
Across Southern Karnataka districts of Ramanagara, Tumakuru, Kolar, and Hassan, the place dairy farming has offered a supply of livelihood and supplemented revenue over the many years, farmers at the moment are feeling the warmth of value rise. Most holdings amongst farmers within the State has been estimated by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to be between one and three cows.
“The government increased the price by ₹2 per litre of milk in the retail market recently and passed on the same to farmers. But the cost of feed, which was about ₹800 for a 50-kg bag, increased to over ₹1,100. This would cost around ₹800 two years ago,” stated Nagaraju, a resident of Malavalli in Mandya district.
The households of landless labourers proudly owning cows are notably hit arduous as they need to buy the fodder at a excessive price. At Aladahalli in Mandya district, Nage Gowda’s contribution to the native milk society has dropped from greater than 15 litres earlier to about 3 litres as he decreased the variety of cows from three to 1 resulting from fodder points. Mr. Nage Gowda stated wryly, “A bottle of water is sold at ₹20 while we get ₹29 for a litre of milk. Is this a fair pricing mechanism?”
Varying costs
In Ramanagara, farmers get ₹32.85 per litre of milk whereas in Mandya it is ₹29 per litre. The procurement value of milk in 15 district unions throughout the State varies, relying on the monetary standing of the unions, and from season to season. Besides, ₹5 per litre that is given as incentive from the federal government has not been launched since November 2022, which runs into over ₹600 crore now.
“Erratic release of incentive is another problem though the money is assured. Expecting the money, most of the times we raise hand loans and return it when the incentive comes,” stated Nanjamma, a resident of Kempashetty Doddi, close to Bidadi in Ramanagara district.
There are about 25 lakh members of the KMF, who profit from the motivation scheme, and along with their members of the family are estimated to be over 50 lakh voters within the State, making it among the many greatest catchment for political events. Keeping an eye on the election, Janata Dal (Secular), BJP, and Congress have all promised to extend the motivation to ₹7 per litre of their manifestos. But many farmers the The Hindu spoke to had been unaware of this incentive.
Interestingly, regardless of a high-voltage political battle over the entry of Amul into the Bengaluru market, and suspicions raised by the Opposition Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) over the merger of Nandini with Amul, farmers in rural hinterland both stay unaware of it or are extra slowed down by survival points.
Living with cows
Despite troubled occasions, why are farmers nonetheless holding to dairy farming? According to Mahesh at Anchemuddanhalli in Ok.R. Pet, with the vagaries of climate and poor pricing mechanism for agricultural produce, agriculture has not been worthwhile. “With milk unions making payments every fortnight, there is a steady flow of money. This also supplements income. Having cows is also part of the rural livelihood…. We are used to living with cows.”
KMF officers additionally acknowledge the issues confronted by dairy farmers, and the worth rise is squeezing them. While the KMF procured a file 94 lakh litres a day through the flush season final 12 months, the procurement dropped to about 64 lakh earlier this March as a result of lean season, that are the annual seasonal cycles. They additionally acknowledged that regardless of milk procurement going up, many farmers have both give up dairy farming or decreased the variety of cows. However, the variety of dairy farmers is additionally rising past the standard Old Mysore area, and many who can handle large dairies are additionally slowly rising.
