Our Correspondent :
Farmers in Ishwardi district are facing difficulty with their milk as Milk Vita has stopped buying milk due to the ongoing lockdown to contain corona pandemic countrywide. Even if they want to sell milk at the price of water in Ishwardi’s hat-bazaar, there is no buyer. It is learned that milk is not being sold in Rajapur, Muladuli, Dashuria, Arambaria, Natunhat and Aotapara areas of the area on Sunday morning. There is no one to buy per liter milk now at 25-30 taka which was previous sold at Tk. 50. That is why many are now feeding milk with calves and giving it to relatives. However, almost all the farms, big and small, are struggling to get cow feed as they cannot sell milk.
Upazila Animal Resources Officer Rafiqul Islam said there are more than a hundred farms in Ishwardi, big and small. Small farmers in particular sell milk to buy cattle feed and support their families. Farmers are in dire straits as they are unable to sell milk due to severe lockdown.
Amirul Islam of Laxmikunda Union, owner of Tanmoy Dairy Farm, the largest national medal winner farm in Ishwardi, produces 450-500 liters of milk per day. There are about 40 farms in this area. Amirul said, I am in great danger with milk. Before the lockdown, Milk Vita used to buy all the milk in the area. Now he is taking only two cans (80 liters) milk every day. I have fallen into extreme problem with so much milk.
He said, “We have made arrangements with the farmers in the area to make ‘Pakuria Primary Milk Producers Cooperative Society’ by making an agreement with a factory through the association to make cream with milk.” However, it is not possible to make puppies with the milk that is left after making the cream. The milk has to be discarded as the puppies are not sold.
Nahid Ghosh from Mazdia area collects 200 liters of milk from house to house every day and supplies it to a ghee and lamb making factory in Lalpur. The factory is not taking milk now due to severe lockdown. Nahid said that after pulling the cream out of the milk in the factory, the milk was made. Due to non-availability of transport, the supply of these puppies in different areas including Dhaka is stopped now. If the chicks are not sold, only ghee is made.
Almas Ali, a college teacher from Gopalpur village in Sara Union, said Ghosh used to come every day to fetch milk. Not anymore. There is no one to buy it when it is taken to the market. Many others including me are not able to give milk and are feeding milk with calves. Many are distributing milk to their relatives and neighbors as they are unable to sell it.
No money is being given to the members of the association now. If the situation is good, money will be available after selling ghee. Just don’t feed at the price of ghee. Small indigent farmers are in dire straits. He said that many people have become indebted to buy cow feed along with their own sustenance.
