Cattle farmers finding hard to feed their cows
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 23 2012: With lose of grazing grounds and fields to modern concrete structures, cattle farmers in the state are facing the problem of feeding their milking cows, according to Poireiton of Khurai, who rears seven milking cows.

Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao, the young cattle farmer said that he is rearing seven cows at his residence and they have given a total of 21,341 litres of milk from January till date this year.

However, searching for fodder to feed these cows is becoming a very big problem.

He pointed out that even though the government of Manipur has launched various schemes to cultivate and promote cattle fodder in the state, but none of the farmers rearing cows and other milk giving domestic animals have never benefited from any of these schemes.

Most of the cattle farmers have to purchase fodder for their castles from the market and nearby mills.

Apart from that, many government and private buildings have come up over the earlier grazing fields for cattle around the city, and today it is hard to find even a single green patch from where fodder could be collected or let loose the cattle to graze.

So, for preparing the fodder, cattle farmers spend around Rs 350 to 400 per 30 kgs of husks/covers of wheat peanuts, and pourabi dhana from rice mills, he informed.

However, as mill owners find it more profitable in exporting such cattle foods to other neighbouring states at higher price, cattle farmers have to literally fight with mill owners to get their share, he added, while appealing to the government for arranging some means to ensure fodders for cattle to the farmers in the state.

Meanwhile, speaking as an invitee at the 18th Annual General Body Meeting (AGBM) of Ima Langnubi Dairy Co-operative Society Ltd.

(ILDCSLtd) held at its Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai office complex today, Kh Phunindro, Development Officer, Oriental Insurance, pointed out that the number of cattle farmers in the state is decreasing over the years.

He also mentioned that to increase the number of cattle farmers in the state, farmers need to ensure the lives of their cattle with cattle insurance policies.

Moreover, state veterinary department, cattle insurance provider companies and farmers also need to work together in this regard.

Reviewing the works done by the Society, Thangjam Ajit Singh, Vice President of ILDCSLtd, said that the dairy society is planning to set up a milk plant at the cost of around Rs.24 Lakh and it's likely to be commissioned by 2013 .

Members, board members of ILDCSLtd, officials of Veterinary Department and representatives of Co-operative societies and cattle farmers attended the AGBM which was presided over by President of the diary society Brojen Sinam.

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