Acute crisis of fodder in flood-hit districts Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrakona, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Rangpur, Jamalpur, Gaibandha, Feni, Rangamati, Bogura, Kurigram, Sirajganj, Lalmonirhat and Cox's Bazar has added much to the woes of cattle rearers. After being submerged under flood waters for many days, the feed for cattle in the lands they graze has been destroyed.
Many farmers’ stored cattle feed has also been washed away as the waters damaged many structures like homes and outhouses. In this situation, the cattle farmers are now worried about cattle feed. A large number of cows, buffaloes, sheep, and goats have been affected in these districts.
Even though the water receded, the feed stored in the houses including grazing land in the districts was destroyed. Locals who have cows, buffaloes, goats, and sheep, said this time everything including cattle feed has gone rotten in the prolonged flood.
Now they are very worried about getting feed for their cattle. As most of the grass and crops of the affected areas including chars were destroyed in the prolonged floods, it has become difficult to feed the cattle.
As most of the grass and crops of the
affected areas including chars were
destroyed in the prolonged floods,
it has become difficult to feed the cattle.
Some of them are borrowing money to buy cattle feed from the market at a high price to save food for domestic animals. Many farmers are also compelled to sell their milch cows, bulls, goats, and buffaloes at a low price as the recent flood damaged the farm.
As flood washed away farmers’ haystacks and damaged grass fields, a cow that used to give three to four litres of milk daily a month ago now gives only one to one and a half litres of milk on an average. Milk production has also decreased due to the lack of fodder in the affected districts.
The government should launch the disbursement of cash incentives to the livestock sector as farmers are struggling to manage fodder as floodwater damaged grass fields. If they get the money as incentives they will be able to rebuild their farms hit hard by the flood water.
The financially affected farmers will also have to be provided with different inputs such as medicines, and buildings for sheds for rearing cattle. We believe the government will stand by the helpless flood-affected cattle farmers.
