Milk to become costlier with drought spell

KANPUR: Slowly but surely, the spectre of drought is gaining appalling proportions. Amdist the gathering gloom news from the villages is distressing to say the least.
Farmers are waging grim battles on several fronts. Crops are wilting and the cattle too are being affected. While the farmers know that nothing except rains can save crops, they are exploring every possible way to save the cattle from perishing.
Perhaps, none is aware of the hardships of the farmers more than the helpline at Chandra Shekhar Azad Agriculture university here.Every call is an S.O.S. “My buffalo is not eating fodder. The milk yield has reduced considerably __ it is almost half. Is there a way to check dehydration? These are some of the questions being asked nagging regularity. The helpline is really not of much help in view of mother nature’s ire.
There cannot be a replacement for water, fodder has become scarce and the cattle famished. There could be a severe shortage of milk soon, warn the experts.
Along with it the milk products will be come dear if the situation continues for some more time. The director of CSA university Dr K B Singh told Times News Network that there could be largescale destruction of animals.
The situation in and around Kanpur is alarming. It may be similar elsewhere also. sorghum (jwar), the common fodder of cows and buffaloes has developed hydrocynic acid due to drought. This particular fodder has to be washed at least three times before feeding it to the cattle. The farmers depend on the rain for the purpose.
But now it seems to be a wait in vain. So, the fodder has turned poisonous. The cost of straw has jumped up to Rs 200 per quintal from Rs 120 per quintal. Lack of food and water has hit cattle hard. There is no silver lining anywhere.