<i>Green fodder crisis hits flood-hit farmers</i>
Acute crisis of green fodder in Teesta and Dharla river basin areas in Lalmonirhat district adds to the worry of flood-affected farmers, especially those who mainly depend on rearing domestic animals for livelihood.
Many of the cattle owners, who have been facing serious problem due to high prices of hay, oilcake and wheat bran from the beginning of rainy season this year, are now thinking of selling their domestic animals for whatever price they get in the local market.
According to district livestock office sources, flood damaged eight dairy farms in Teesta river basin areas of Hatibandha and Aditmari upazilas in Lalmonirhat district, causing a loss of about Tk one crore.
"Now I get only three litres of milk daily from three cows that gave nine to eleven litres of milk two weeks ago. As the recent flood has washed away my haystack, milk production has decreased due to lack of fodder,” said Habibur Rahman, 45, a dairy farm owner of South Goddimari village in Hatibandha upazila.
"I had four cows but I sold three of them for a nominal price on Tuesday as fodder is not available in the village,” said Rohidul Islam, 40, of flood-hit Sindurna village of the same upazila.
Even after the recent recession of floodwater, many farmers are staying on roads, embankments and highlands along with their cows as floodwater had destroyed their houses and cowsheds.
Only two weeks ago, one maund (around 40 kg) of hay sold for Tk 150 to 160 but now it is selling for Tk 280 to Tk 300 in local markets, much to the worry of cattle farmers.
Hanif Sarker, 62, of Gobordhon Char village under Aditmari upazila, said they fear much difficulty to rear cows as the fodder crisis is likely to continue till the beginning of aman paddy harvest.
"I am badly in need of grass seedlings as I lost grass on five bighas (one bigha is equal to 0.33 acre) of land due to the recent flood," Shamsul Alom, 48, a dairy farm owner at the same village, said.
“I have facing untold problem with my ten cows, as all the grasslands around my homestead has been damaged in the flood. I have not money enough to buy hay for my cows,” said Parimol Chandra Sen, 65, of flood-hit Bongram village in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila.
"Fodder crisis has become acute as floodwater destroyed green fodder in about 30 villages in Teesta and Dharla river basin areas in four upazilas of Lalmonirhat. It will take time for new grass to grow," said Lalmonirhat District Livestock Officer Dr Siraj.
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