Hyd, RR dairy farms in dire straits Labour shortage adds to woes Demand for milk has not come down, but its production surely has, ...
- Hyd, RR dairy farms in dire straits
- Labour shortage adds to woes
Demand for milk has not come down, but its production surely has, both in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts.
According to market sources, over 50 dairy farms are on the verge of closure if they have not been closed already. All these developments relate to the past one year.
Unlike other sectors, dairy sector does not depend on subsidies. But the shortage of skilled labour and fodder crisis made the sector unhealthy.
Approximately 250-275 dairy farms are spread over the two districts. However, those clustered in the vicinity of Rampally, Dammaiguda, Kesera and Bommalaramum and Hyderabad outskirts and catering to big clientele like hotels have touched such new-lows that continuing the business makes no economic sense.
“We use to run a dairy farm with bovine count of 120 But because are unable to make ends meet we are compelled to close shop”, points out Venugopal Reddy, who recently closed his farm in Rampally.
Like many others who took a fancy to the business, even he decided to go into it given the handsome returns they fetched.
He became a first generation dairy owner after procuring robust cows from Haryana together with desi labour.
However, he did not reckon with the tendency of the labour which never stayed beyond three months at a stretch. Compounding the problem, there was none from the districts who could tend to the animals.
Most of the workers operating in the farms are either from Uttar Pradesh or Haryana as they are skilled at work.
“These migrant workers demand a year’s pay in advance. They flee soon after they are paid”, rues Mohan Babu Goud, who has a farm in Bommalaramum.
Before bifurcation, there used to be workers from Andhra region who are somewhat better at work. As they are getting more pay and nearer to their villages, most have gone back to their respective villages, thus adding to the troubles.
Another issue is the fodder crisis. Due to delayed monsoon quality fodder has either become scarce or a luxury that not many can afford.
Even otherwise the produce has become costlier and today is available at double the cost of what it was in the good old days.
For instance, a healthy Bovine consumes about 15 kg of fodder and gives 10 liters of milk a day. Because of the shortage, the fodder costs doubled, the alternate for fodder is Rabis, which is made from the leftovers in hotel.
“Rabis is a good source of fodder for bovines. They look healthy and give good quantity of milk. The only problem is the smell of milk which is very foul, due to which the dairy parlors buy it for low price”, says Ramaih who runs a farm of 300 bovines in Keesara District.
According to market sources, over 50 dairy farms are on the verge of closure if they have not been closed already. All these developments relate to the past one year.
Unlike other sectors, dairy sector does not depend on subsidies. But the shortage of skilled labour and fodder crisis made the sector unhealthy.
Approximately 250-275 dairy farms are spread over the two districts. However, those clustered in the vicinity of Rampally, Dammaiguda, Kesera and Bommalaramum and Hyderabad outskirts and catering to big clientele like hotels have touched such new-lows that continuing the business makes no economic sense.
“We use to run a dairy farm with bovine count of 120 But because are unable to make ends meet we are compelled to close shop”, points out Venugopal Reddy, who recently closed his farm in Rampally.
Like many others who took a fancy to the business, even he decided to go into it given the handsome returns they fetched.
He became a first generation dairy owner after procuring robust cows from Haryana together with desi labour.
However, he did not reckon with the tendency of the labour which never stayed beyond three months at a stretch. Compounding the problem, there was none from the districts who could tend to the animals.
Most of the workers operating in the farms are either from Uttar Pradesh or Haryana as they are skilled at work.
“These migrant workers demand a year’s pay in advance. They flee soon after they are paid”, rues Mohan Babu Goud, who has a farm in Bommalaramum.
Before bifurcation, there used to be workers from Andhra region who are somewhat better at work. As they are getting more pay and nearer to their villages, most have gone back to their respective villages, thus adding to the troubles.
Another issue is the fodder crisis. Due to delayed monsoon quality fodder has either become scarce or a luxury that not many can afford.
Even otherwise the produce has become costlier and today is available at double the cost of what it was in the good old days.
For instance, a healthy Bovine consumes about 15 kg of fodder and gives 10 liters of milk a day. Because of the shortage, the fodder costs doubled, the alternate for fodder is Rabis, which is made from the leftovers in hotel.
“Rabis is a good source of fodder for bovines. They look healthy and give good quantity of milk. The only problem is the smell of milk which is very foul, due to which the dairy parlors buy it for low price”, says Ramaih who runs a farm of 300 bovines in Keesara District.
