Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru/Udupi (MS)

Mangaluru/Udupi, Jan 9: Due to incessant rains and shortage of raw materials, the dairy farmers of twin districts who supply milk to KMF are facing acute shortage of grass for cattle.

Farmers of both the districts are dependent on Napier grass and dry grass for their cattle. However, the unseasonal rain in November destroyed all the dry grass which is now rotten. More than 1 lac milk farmers are urging 733 milk producers’ associations to supply them grass.

KMF can supply hay only from Hassan, Rajanakunte and Shikaripura, where it has its units. Though the demand is more, due to the shortage of raw materials like husk of paddy and jowar, the production in these units is very less. This has caused more waiting period for dairy farmers and this is directly affecting the production of milk.

Speaking on the issue, Raviraj Shetty, a milk farmer of Asodu in Kundapur said that there was acute shortage of hay for cattle. Private companies sell a 50 kg bag of fodder for Rs 1400, whereas KMF gives it at just Rs 1050. A separate fodder manufacturing unit needs to be established in twin districts", he opined.

DKMUL director Narasimha Kamath said that he had submitted a proposal to KMF to start a fodder manufacturing unit in Dakshina Kannada. A land had been identified in Puttur for the purpose, he added.

DKMUL is encouraging the growing of green hay. Farmers are supported to produce hybrid Napier hay. They are given Rs 20, 000 per acre of land for three years as a support price to grow Napier hay. More than 3000 acres of land is used for this purpose, Kamath said.

Animal husbandry minister Prabhu Chavan auured that he would speak to the officers concerned in KMF and see to it that the issue is resolved. In addition, he also promised to start a separate unit to produce cattle fodder in Dakshina Kannada or Udupi district.