“We´ve not demanded cash assistance; we just need government support for high-quality feed and treatment of cattle,” Nirmala Bogati, a dairy farmer, of Gitanagar said. “I am ready to rear a dozen more cattle if the state announces subsidy on feed and medicine.”[break]
Dairy farmers like Nirmala say they are hesitant to rear more cattle despite growing demand for fresh milk in the market because of lack of state incentives.
Bogati said she had to suffer a huge loss when her dairy cattle died of an unknown disease some 15 years ago. She managed to clear her debt by selling milk. Now she has four Holestein cows and a buffalo in her farm.
Chiranjivi Adhikari, another dairy farmer of Gitanagar, said farmers do not get any help when their cattle take diseases. “We have to buy everything -- feed, medicine, straw and fodder. If our cattle die, our entire investment goes in vain. We can´t afford expensive treatment,” added Adhikari.
Narayan Upreti, president of Chitwan Milk Producers; Cooperative Association, said lack of state support on feed and treatment is discouraging farmers from expanding their dairy farms. “There is a high demand for milk in the market. Still, farmers aren´t interested to increase their productions,” Upreti added.
According to the association, Chitwan produced 100,000 liters of milk a day in 2005 and most of the production used to go to waste. At present, the district is producing 115,000 liters a day - far lower than average daily demand of 400,000 liters.
“We can sell around 400,000 liters a day in Chitwan if there is sufficient production,” Shankar Raj Bhandari, former president of the association said.
The newly established Chitawon Milk alone is need of 200,000 liters of fresh milk a day. It is not operating to its full capacity because of shortage of milk. Other dairy producers like state-owned producer Dairy Development Corporation (DDC), Sujal Dairy, Sitaram Milk and Today Milk are also not getting sufficient milk from farmers.
The country is facing deficit of 450,000 liters of milk a day during dry season and 235,000 liters a day during rainy season.
Though INGOs like GIZ and Forward are providing technical support to dairy farmers, farmers say the government is not providing any support to the farmers.
Bishnu Kumar Shrestha of District Livestock Support Office said they cannot provide support to each and every farmer. “But we have been providing technical support whenever farmers ask for it,” Shrestha said.
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