Corona brings woe for dairy farmers in Pabna, Sirajganj

A large number of dairy farmers in Pabna and Sirajganj are facing a tough time as big milk factories have drastically cut collection of the item from the famous milk producing zone during the ongoing general holidays and countrywide shutdown-like situation aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus.

Md Sakhawat Hossain, a dairy farmer of Sonahara village in Pabna's Faridpur upazila,was shocked as he came to know that state-owned factory Milk Vita has cut half of their usual milk collection target for an uncertain period.

Sakhawat, who has continued supplying milk to Baghabari centre of Milk Vita through a local cooperative for the last few years, has now 15 cows that give 55 to 60 litres of milk daily. He has been supplying only 20 to 25 litters for the last few days. 

"Failing to sell the milk to the cooperative I rushed to the owners of local sweet producers but they also refused to buy milk as all the shops got closed due to the threat of coronavirus," said Shakhawat.

He lastly went to a 'ghosh' (chhana producer) and sold the milk for a meagre Tk 15 per litre, that too after repeated request.

"Due to the countrywide shutdown, no one is buying milk from us. What will I do with the huge quantity of milk collected from my cows? I have to spend a good amount of money for buying cattle feed," he said.

Worry of Saidur Rahman of Sonahara village is much more as he usually collects 500 litters of milk from 50 farmers in the village for supplying to Milk Vita at Baghabari through Sonahara Modhyapara Milk Cooperative Society.

"The 50 dairy farmers of Sonahara village are dependent on sale to Milk Vita for their livelihood. Due to the cut in milk collection we are facing serious trouble with the huge amount of milk, which is a perishable item," Saidur said.

Most other big milk companies like Arong, Pran and Akiz have also drastically cut milk collection from the farmers.

They termed the present situation a serious challenge for the dairy industry.

"Usually we used to collect 5000 to 6000 litters of milk every day, but now we are buying only 2500 to 3000 litters." Said Mahatab Hossain, manager at Arong's milk collection centre in Faridpur upazila.

"I get 60 litres of milk daily from my 15 cows. Due to the sudden halt of milk collection by the companies, I sold a portion of the milk for Tk 15 per litre and collected cream from another portion. The remaining 20 litres of milk got wasted," said Eusuf Ali, a dairy farmer of Gopalnagar village in the upazila.

Usually a huge quantity of milk is produced in five upazilas of Pabna and Sirajganj and Milk Vita and other milk factories collect over 2 lakh litres, he said.

"Due to the 10 days' leave announced by the government for preventing the spread of Covid-19 disease, the Milk Vita authority has curtailed the milk collection," Amio Kumar Mondol, manager of Baghabari Milk Vita told The Daily Star.

Dairy farmers want subsidy from the government through Milk Vita for survival of the large-scale dairy farming in the region.

"As the factories closed milk collection, our earnings from its sale has stopped. But we have to buy cow feed for high prices," said Md Abul Hossain, a marginal dairy farmer.

"Crop farmers and fishermen get subsidy in times of need. If we get such benefits during this crisis period, it will help to save our dairy firms. We supply milk for the big companies like Milk Vita but they don't take any responsibility during the crisis," he added.

Asked about the matter, Alimun Rajib, general manager of the Milk Vita, however, said, "Now we don't have any plan to give subsidy because this is a temporary crisis. If the crisis stays long then the authority may think about it."

Dr Al Mamun Hossain Mondol, district livestock officer of Pabna, said, "This is really a crisis period for the dairy industry in Pabna and Sirajganj as well the whole country. Farmers should try to preserve milk through alternative ways, such as producing cream. We have informed the higher authorities about the situation."